Diploma in Psychology of Counselling
Certificate in Psychology of Counselling
Key facts
Entry requirements
No special educational qualifications are required. Successful applicants should have acceptable standards in written and oral aspects of the course. Involvement, either voluntary or professional for which the contents of this programme have relevance, will be taken into consideration. The programme selection panel reserves the right to select candidates.
Duration:
2 years, part -time
Next start date: September 2012
ECTS weighting: 30
Average intake: 24
Closing date: July 13th 2012
NFQ level: 7
Course overview
This part-time programme aims to provide a good, basic grounding in the psychology of lifespan development and major psychological theories of personality and their application to counselling. The practical aspects of the course include basic counselling skills and group facilitation of personal development. Students who successfully complete the first year of the programme are awarded a Certificate and have the option of proceeding to the second year of the programme to obtain a Diploma.
Who is the course for?
It is designed for individuals who are involved in a helping or advice giving role. In particular, it caters for members of self-help groups, volunteers in befriending and support organizations, individuals engaged in personnel work and staff of educational, youth and health services. The course enables participants to gain a better understanding of the processes in which they are involved and to develop their counselling skills. The course is also suitable for persons who would like subsequently to pursue a professional counselling course as the programme is a foundation in the theory and basic skills of counselling.
Course outline
The programme includes lectures and workshops. Participants are introduced to diverse counselling theories and to the practices derived from them in a variety of settings. The two-year course integrates three dimensions of counselling psychology:
- Personality theory and theories of counselling
- Lifespan development and theories of counselling
- Counselling skills and practice, including ethical and professional issues
In the second year of the course students will have an opportunity to gain more in-depth knowledge of:
- Diverse approaches to counselling - Gestalt Counselling; Person-centred Counselling; Behavioural / Cognitive-Behavioural Counselling; Reality Therapy; Family / Couples Counselling; Applied Behavioural Analysis
- Working with groups including various groups such as adolescents, children as wellas addiction groups etc.
- Self Awareness and Personal Development
Applications and selections
Application can be made online from April 1st 2012
Who teaches this course?
Course Director/Co-ordinator
Tammie (Tamar) Scott
M.A. Counselling Psychology, M.B.A.
Member IACP, APCP, BPS
Associate Member APA
Requirements and assessment
Programme lectures take place one evening per week. In addition, there are three weekend workshops (Saturdays, 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.) throughout the year. Reading and writing assignments will be in addition to the above time requirements.
Assessment
Submission of written work, participation in skills training sessions, group work and discussion work form the basis of assessment.
On successful completion of Year 1, participants will be eligible for the award of Certificate or may progress to the Diploma cycle of the course. On successful completion of Year 2, participants will be awarded a Diploma in Psychology of Counselling.
The Diploma is not a professional qualification in counselling. The Certificate / Diploma programme is recognised and approved under the accreditation scheme of the National University of Ireland. The programme merits 15 ECTS credits in each academic year under this scheme.
Find out more
Martha Higgins, Course Administrator
Adult & Continuing Education
National University of Ireland, Galway
T 091 492032
E: martha.higgins@nuigalway.ie
Fees for this course
EU (Total): €970
Non-EU (Total): €1,470
Current students
Mary Whelan
"...I was delighted with the course & found it to be of great benefit to me in lots of ways. One of my reasons for doing the course was for personal development & it certainly helped in many ways. The challenge of doing the essays was new to me & while I found it tough going at the time it was very rewarding when the task was done. The teachers were very committed to the course & put a lot of work into it. While we were only a one night a week course I felt we were part of college life & the conferring was the icing on the cake. As a group, I think we got on very well so, for me, it was a very positive experience ..."