Qualification - CERTIFICATE IN COUNSELLING (CARE PROFESSIONALS) VPS 005

A foundation certificate, aimed at people working or looking to work in care or health care services. This course can also be used as a first step toward our Diploma in Counselling and Psychology.

What is Counselling?

Many people go through times when they find their lives overwhelming or distressing. This may be due to bereavement, illness, family crisis, relationship breakdown and so on. They may find it hard to cope or not have the resources to deal with the problem. Counselling can help them to retain their self-sufficiency, build better relationships and help them to make and act on their choices. Before moving on to specific skills, it is important to just repeat what counselling is.

 

Counselling means different things to different people. It is not a get well quick option, offering quick answers, but is asking the person to engage in a process and an exploration. There are many definitions of counselling. A simple version is that counselling is a working relationship where the client is helped to manage what is happening in their life and to explore their life. It is a form of psychological or talking therapy that offers people the ability to change how they live and feel. The aim of counselling is to provide the client with a more satisfying experience of life. Everyone has different needs, so counselling can be concerned with many different aspects of a person’s life.

CERTIFICATE IN COUNSELLING (CARE PROFESSIONALS)

  • Learn about human psychology and it's application in health support and care industries
  • Discover the diverse career paths that these studies can apply to
  • Work with people in a support role, find a job or start a business.

 

The Certificate comprises of 6 modules

Module 1. Introduction to Psychology
This course will help you to analyse aspects of a person's psychological state and apply derived knowledge to motivate that person. There are seven lessons in this course:
1. The Nature and Scope of Psychology
2. Neurological basis of behaviour
3. Environmental effects on behaviour
4. Consciousness and perception
5. Personality
6. Psychological development
7. Needs, drives and motivation

Module 2. Psychology and Counselling
A course that develops your ability to analyse psychological conditions and to apply that knowledge in counselling or advisory situations. There are seven lessons in this course:
1. Stress
2. Abnormal Behaviour
3. Individual Behaviour
4. Group Behaviour
5. Methods of Dealing with Abnormalities
6. Conflict Resolution
7. Interpersonal Communication Skills

Module 3. Stress Management
Anxiety, tension and mental and emotional strain are common problems in modern society. This course introduces you to some practical approaches to combating stress. It covers the following topics:
1. Body changes caused by stress.
2. Developing an easy going lifestyle.
3. Pills and alcohol abuse.
4. Building self esteem.
5. Career management and achieving work satisfaction.
6. Security and Decision Making.
7. Relaxation massage, meditation and diet.
8. Evaluating and developing your own personality.

Module 4. Life Coaching

This course is aimed at students with experience or training in health, counselling, social work, natural therapies etc. It will develop your skills in setting and achieving goals, for yourself or for those who seek your assistance. There are ten lessons:
1. Introduction: Nature and scope of life coaching
2. Individual perceptions
3. A well-balanced life
4. Coaching skills
5. Coaching models
6. Coaching and physical well-being
7. Coaching and psychological well-being
8. Coaching success
9. Goal-setting
10. Review and adjustment

Module 5. Biopsychology I
Biopsychology studies the interaction between psychology and the physical body. It would beneft anyone working in fields of fitness or health, and most areas of psychology.
1. Introduction - Types of external and internal stimuli, mind-body debate, introduction to the nervous system.
2. The Senses - Sensory input, sensory perception, description of the major senses.
3. The Nervous System - Description of the neurons, the central nervous system, peripheral nervous
system, including the autonomic nervous system.
4. The Endocrine System - Effect of hormones behaviour and physiology, association of endocrine
system and nervous system, connection between external and internal stimuli.
5. Stress- Types of stressors, physical affects of stress, personality and stress.
6. Emotions - Homeostasis, eating disorders, physiological responses to emotions, theories of
emotion.
7. Consciousness - Degrees of consciousness, awareness and attention, altered states of
consciousness.

Module 6. Choose any 1 module from the following :

  • Counselling Skills 1
  • Crisis Counselling
  • Counselling Techniques
  • Grief Counselling
  • Professional Practice in Counselling

 

Duration: 600 hours

 

KNOW THE LAW!

There are legal issues to consider when working with people who need care, counselling or otherwise. One should always be mindful of the individual, their circumstances and how their interest can be best served.

Laws do vary from country to country, but in developed countries everyone normally has a legal right to treatment for mental health problems. It is a common requirement of health care professions that all practitioners are committed to uphold legal responsibilities of good practice.

Confidentiality

Confidentiality is important in any counselling situation. A client is coming to a therapist for support and needs to trust the therapist. The client must believe that what they say is treated confidentially - this is a basic right. Confidentiality essentially means that whatever personal information is shared between the client and therapist about their problems belongs to the client. The client must give consent for this information to be shared.
 
However, there are exceptions to confidentiality, and these must be clearly explained to the client at the onset of the counselling process. If, for instance, the therapist believes the person is going to harm themselves or someone else, they have a duty to inform the relevant authorities. Also, if client files have been subpoenaed by a court of law then the therapist must comply and provide information but the client.

If working as part of a mental health team then it is also necessary to share information with other carers. Sometimes clients may request that their information is not shared with others but it may well be to their own detriment if it is not discussed, particularly with supervisors and team leaders.

Data Protection

This is an aspect of confidentiality. It is essential that all client records are dealt with confidentially and their data protected. As more and more records are kept electronically, it is essential for counsellors to ensure that this information cannot be accessed in anyway.

Informed Consent

Patients or clients must provide their agreement to undergo any kind of therapeutic process or psychological interventions. This also extends to medication, or surgery. They must be able to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of any kind of treatment offered to them and give their consent to it. If a person is not considered mentally capable of providing consent, that is they are not competent, then another authorised person may provide consent. For children, this is usually a parent or guardian. For adults, it could be a relative or spouse. 

Informed consent is also requested for information about clients which is to be shared with others such as insurance companies and the legal profession. Sometimes employers may request access to mental health records and so given the sensitive nature of this information the client must understand what information may be requested and how it can be used.


Professional Liability Insurance and Other Insurances

Professional insurance is essential for counsellors to protect themselves and their clients. It is essential, before becoming a counsellor, to ensure you are aware of the insurance requirements in the country or organisation in which you work.


Licence to Practice

In some professions or jobs it is necessary to be registered in order to practice legally. if this applies, individual practitioners must ensure that their status is current. 


Safeguarding Clients

All practitioners must take action wherever they suspect other health care providers to be acting unethically or outside the interests of the clients. All cases of unprofessional conduct should be reported.

Health care professionals should also only practice what is within their areas of expertise, and be familiar with what is considered acceptable practice within their particular role.  

Commitment

Sometimes a person with an adverse reaction to a trauma or crisis (or any other mental health condition) may need to be committed to a hospital involuntarily. This is when they are considered to be a danger to themselves or others. Whilst most people are open to help, some are not and in many countries or regions these people may be ordered to be hospitalised by a court where a lack of treatment is considered to increase risk of danger.  

A person who is detained in a mental health facility against their will can apply for a writ of habeus corpus whereby a court hearing is conducted to determine their sanity. If found to be sane then they have to be released from the facility immediately.


Right to Refuse Treatment

As well as a right to receive treatment for mental health conditions, any person also has a right to information about the risks and rewards of any potential treatment, and the right to refuse treatment


WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?

ENROL TODAY!
Just go to the top of this page for pricing and enrolment options. If you have any questions you can contact us now, by:
Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

Email us at [email protected]

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