PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELLING ONLINE COURSE
DISTANCE LEARNING PSYCHOLOGY - LEARN ABOUT PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELLING
THIS COURSE IS NOW RECOGNISED BY THE COMPLEMENTARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
There are many different areas of psychology, such as educational psychology, occupational psychology, criminological and legal psychology, psychology teaching and research. Each of these fields have different careers, pay and prospects within them. Some offer full time work, others only part time. Some offer consultancy and freelance work, whilst in others the psychologist is employed.
There is some degree of overlap between specialisms, for example, clinical psychologists and educational psychologists may both work with children with mental health problems. Occupational and clinical psychologists may both work with people in prisons. Some careers also overlap with other professions, such as psychiatry and counseling.
The most common element of work within psychology is problem solving. This may be done as part of a team with other professionals.
The psychology will have to develop problem solving skills, objective data gathering, empirical methods, skills in statistical analysis, interpreting data, interviewing, computer use, experimental design, considering evidence, communicating conclusions.
Nominal Duration: 1500 hours
Modules Offered: (Each module = 100 hours)
6 x CORE (COMPULSORY) MODULES:
- Introduction to Psychology Re019
- Psychology & Counselling Re020
- Counselling Skills I Re055
- Counselling Skills II Re056
- Counselling Techniques Re057
- Professional Practice in Counselling Re058
3 x WORKPLACE (COMPULSORY) PROJECTS:
- Research Project I
- Research Project II
- Workshops
6 x OPTIONAL (ELECTIVE) MODULES FROM THOSE LISTED BELOW (CLICK ON THE LINK FOR MORE INFORMATION)
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. (see more detail below)
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.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
It is expected that students will continue to develop their professional knowledge and standing after gaining this qualification. The ACA can advise you on suitable courses.
OUTLINES FOR CORE MODULES
Module 1. Introduction to Psychology
There are seven lessons in this course, as follows:
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 & Counselling
There are seven lessons in this course, as follows:
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. Counselling Skills I
The course is divided into eight lessons as follows:
1. Learning Specific Skills
2. Listening and Bonding
3. Reflection: Paraphrasing
4. Questioning
5. Interview Techniques
6. Changing Beliefs and Normalising
7. Finding Solutions
8. Ending the Counselling
Module 4. Counselling Skills II
The course is divided into eight lessons as follows:
1. The Counselling Session
2. Focus on the Present
3. Telephone Counselling
4. Dealing with Crises
5. Problem-Solving Techniques I: Aggression
6. Problem-Solving Techniques II: Depression
7. Problem-Solving Techniques III: Grief and Loss
8. Problem-Solving Techniques IV: Suicide
Module 5. Counselling Techniques
The course is divided into eight lessons as follows:
- Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy l: Freud (& Erikson); Jung
- Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy ll: Adler
- Humanistic/Existential Approaches I: Gestalt Therapy; Fritz Perls
- Humanistic/Existential Approaches II: Person-Centred Counselling; Carl Rogers
- Rational Behavioural Therapy: Albert Ellis
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Aaron Beck
- Behavioural Therapy:
- Solution-Focused Counselling:
Module 6. Professional Practice in Counselling
The course is divided into seven lessons as follows:
1. Understanding Counselling
2. Ethics & Confidentiality
3. Understanding the Self: Self-awareness
4. Personality
5. Emotions & Behaviour
6. Supervision
7. Referral Practice
Modules
Note that each module in the Qualification -Diploma In Counselling and Psychology is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
(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)
Recommended Reading
We have developed a great little ebook, full of practical advice on counselling, that complements this and other counselling courses we offer. It is called "Counselling Handbook" and is a collaborative effort from several of our staff.
