Qualification - DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOLOGY VPS007

This course is a vocational course aimed at those who wish to pursue a career in counselling

It contains a practical element that not only complements the theory, but also prepares the student for real-life counselling situations. This course is an exceptionally solid foundation for a career in counselling.
  • 1,500 hours, 15 modules including practical component
  • Prepares the student for real-life counselling situations.
  • Exceptional tutors (Experienced and highly qualified psychologists and counsellors from the UK and Australia)
  • An internationally (IARC) endorsed qualification,
  • Recognised training with the Complimentary Medicine Association.
  • Provides 50% credit toward our degree level program click for details

Train to Be a Professional Counsellor

  • Start your own Business
  • Seek employment elsewhere

Not every trained counsellor works as a "counsellor"; but the experience, skills and knowledge  that comes from studying counselling has very wide applications. Undertaking this course will not only open opportunities to work in counselling; bust in many other jobs as well. -jobs that provide opportunities to help people in a whole variety of different ways.


Summary of Modules: (Each module = 100 hours)

6 x CORE (COMPULSORY) MODULES:

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Psychology & Counselling
  • Counselling Skills I
  • Counselling Skills II
  • Counselling Techniques
  • Professional Practice in Counselling

  

3 x WORKPLACE (COMPULSORY) PROJECTS:

  • Research Project I
  • Research Project II
  • Workshops

 

6 x OPTIONAL (ELECTIVE) MODULES FROM:

  • Conflict Management
  • Industrial Psychology
  • Biopsychology I
  • Child Psychology
  • Family Counselling
  • Relationships and Communications Counselling
  • Grief Counselling
  • Careers Counselling
  • Aged Care Counselling
  • Anger Management
  • Sports Psychology
  • Human Health & Fitness I 
  • Human Nutrition I

 

Many additional options may be accepted including:

  • Stress Management
  • Aromatherapy
  • Marketing Psychology
  • Research Project III
 
Nominal Duration: 1,500 hours

 

BREAKDOWN OF THE COURSE COMPONENTS

Core Modules/Subjects

The course is sequenced so that foundation knowledge and skills are established through completion of the core unit modules. Students will be expected to complete these modules before undertaking any of the other course components.

 

Research Projects

Successive ‘research projects’ will build on and reinforce the core learning. Each research project is 100 hours duration and contains 2 parts: the first part assists the student in developing research skills, whilst the second part involves carrying out a relevant research project.

Research project I

This develops the student’s ability to plan and conduct research, and involves a minor statistical research project and report.

Research Project II

This further develops the student’s ability to monitor and evaluate a common process (or processes) relevant to their studies.

 

Elective Modules/Subjects

Elective studies will broaden foundation knowledge and skills into other areas which are of value to persons working in one or several sectors of counselling. They give the student the opportunity to study areas that are of interest to them.

 

Workshops

Students will also be required to attend and pass competency standards at workshops totalling 100 hours. These workshops can be undertaken anywhere in the world and will need to be overseen by an approved assessor. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange attendance at workshops and to meet any costs incurred, whether at the school or elsewhere.

DEVELOPING YOUR COUNSELLING SKILLS

Trainee counsellors need to develop their communication skills, and their own self-awareness. This is because developing communication skills requires taking a look at your present communication style and being brutally honest with what currently works and what needs improvement. Communication skills are grouped as:

Hearing verbal messages - these messages are the apparent and underlying cognitive and effective content of the person's statements.

Perceiving nonverbal messages - are sent via body language, vocal tone, facial expression, and other cues that accompany verbal messages. The emotion the sender is experiencing can be picked up at this level so that empathy can be conveyed. Perceiving the non-verbal messages can also assist the trainee recognise inconsistencies between verbal and non-verbal messages.

Responding - immediate genuine, empathic reaction is required for verbal and nonverbal messages. The response should consider apparent and underlying content of messages and perceived non-verbal messages.

Verbal and non-verbal communication

Verbal communication involves the use of words: spoken or written. Even a person who thinks they are not communicating can be sending messages. Non-verbal communication involves other signals or messages ‑ pictures, music, body language (the way the body moves or is held, gestures, facial expression, eye contact etc.). Many communication experts assign greater importance to non-verbal communication in ordinary conversation, than what they assign to verbal communication.

 

RECOGNITION

  • This course was developed by a team of professionals from both within and outside of the school. It has been in operation since 2003 and has many successful graduates

    Graduates may obtain professional indemnity insurance through our partner insurance companies OAMPS and Tower Insurance.

    It is accredited by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (IARC).
  • ACS Distance Education is also registered for training in this discipline with the Complementary Medicine Association (UK).
  • This course already articulates with Advanced Diplomas and Diplomas conducted by this school, and with degrees offered by Warnborough University in the U.K.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT


It is expected that students will continue to develop their professional knowledge and standing after gaining this qualification.

(Note: The fee for this course is lower than our standard diploma fee. This is because it had been developed in liaison with industry representatives who required it to be less hours than the standard ACS diploma. Of course this situation has resulted in an advantage to our students. In effect you are getting a diploma for an associate diploma level fee)


Some of those who have developed this course

Tracey Jones - Academic Officer & Tutor (U.K.)
B.Sc. (Hons) (Psychology), M.Soc.Sc (social work), DipSW (social work), PGCE (Education), PGD (Learning Disability Studies). Tracey has around 15 years experience within the psychology and social work field, particularly working with people with learning disabilities. She is also qualified as a teacher and now teaches psychology and social work related subjects. She is a book reviewer for the British Journal of Social Work. Tracey has also written a text book on Psychology and has had several short stories published

Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA
Gavin has over 18 years of industry experience in Psychology, Landscaping, Publishing /and Education. He was operations manager for a highly reputable British Landscape firm (The Chelsea Gardener) before starting up his own firm. He spent the best part of three years working in our Gold Coast office, partly as a writer for Your Backyard (gardening magazine), and partly as a tutor in both psychology and horticulture. Gavin is now based in the UK, working with ACS and pursuing studies toward a Masters Degree in Psychology.

Lyn Quirk M.Prof.Ed.; Adv.Dip.Compl.Med (Naturopathy); Adv.Dip.Sports Therapy
Lyn has 25 years of experience in the Fitness, Health and Leisure Industries. She has a string of qualifications that are far too long to list here; being qualified and registered to teach, coach or instruct a wide range of different sports and other skills.
Lyn established and managed Health clubs at three major five star resorts on Queensland's Gold Coast, including the Marriot. She was a department head for a large government vocational college (TAFE), and has conducted her own aquafitness business for many years. Lyn has amongst her other commitments worked as a tutor for ACS for almost 10 years, and over that time, participated in the development or upgrading of most courses in her fields of expertise.

Jemima Beaumont B.A.(Psych); Adv.Dip Photog (part)
Jemima has a diverse background, in retailing, administration, counselling and photography; including Optical Dispenser (OPSM), Student Guidance Mentor (ANU) and Office Manager (People with Disabilities)

Tosca Zraikat B.A. (Writing); B.Teaching
Over 35 years of industry experience in writing, education, management and welfare. Tosca is completing the final stages of a Masters Degree in writing she also works as a tutor and writer for ACS, and runs a small editing business.

Dr. Mark L. Berman Ph.D.
Dr.Berman is a psychological consultant who operates out of Phoenix, Arizona, USA.
Prior to that he was on the faculty of The Pennsylvania State University and the University of Washington for a number of years.
He has been a member of the American Psychological Association for thirty-two years, and the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology for nearly twenty-six years. Dr. Berman has served as a Contributing Editor to Educational Technology, as a Field Reader for the U.S. Office of Education, and as a Manuscript Reviewer for Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, as well as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. His professional interests and experiences are wide spread, and include comprehensive psychotherapy, evaluations of persons from ages four through ninety, and personal energy management. His fifth book is due for publication this coming Spring, and he has more than sixty articles, invited chapters, etc.

 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEARN MORE?

ENROL TODAY!
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Phone (UK) 01384 44272, (International) +44 (0) 1384 442752, or

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