STUDY AT HOME - COUNSELLING AND PSYCHOLOGY
Learn How People Think, Interact, Respond, Grow and Develop
Help People
Manage People
Teach People
The Psychology profession is much more than just Counselling; and a successful career requires much more than just a qualification.
Build your capacity to work right across the spectrum of this profession.
Some graduates do set up in business as a counsellor, but; operating either their own clinic or working to provide support services with another medical or complimentary medicine professional
Many others use this as a starting point for a career in industries such as management, marketing, education, welfare industries, employment services, industrial relations, health and media.
In today's rapidly changing world, it is always going to be impossible to say any particular course will get you into any particular job. The world is simply changing too fast, and jobs that exist today simply might not even exist by the time you complete your studies. One thing is for sure though -people who have a better understanding of how people think, will always be valued -in virtually any workplace.
"Gain a greater understanding of the human mind and the counselling process with this diploma." -
Watch this Video and hear more from Tracey
The diploma is formally accredited by the international Accreditation and Recognition Council.
The school has been assessed as having expertise in teaching Psychology, by the Complementary Medicine Association (UK), a body which ACS has been a member of for several years.
Graduates are encouraged to apply for membership of the CMA.
The diploma will also provide credit toward higher qualifications through ACS Distance Education (UK) or Warnborough College (UK). The course provides an opportunity to interact with and learn from very successful, highly qualified and experienced professionals.
ABOUT THE COURSE
Six Core Modules:
Six Elective Modules:
Research Projects:
Research Project I :
Research Project II:
Workshops: Workshops and assessment of student practical skills must be completed after the student has passed the core modules of this course. Alternatively, the student may undertake this after completing all study modules.
Workshops should make up 100 hours of relevant industry experience which may be undertaken anywhere in the world. It is the student’s responsibility to arrange attendance at workshops and to meet any costs incurred, whether at the school or elsewhere. However, the school will seek to assist students who are having difficulty finding suitable experience. Students may choose to set up their own workshops with an assessor or they may prefer to attend workshops which have already been established by counselling organisations or individuals in their own country.
You may choose to complete the workshop experience in a variety of ways.
One to one tuition. Approved work placement. Small group seminars with approved trainer. Whilst the school strongly advocates attendance at workshops to fulfil the supervised training aspect of the course, this may not always be possible. In that case, it may acceptable to complete the practical component by undergoing supervised training with an established counselling organisation.
RECOGNITION
This course is accredited by the International Accreditation and Recognition Council (IARC).
ACS Distance Education is registered in this area of training with the Complementary Medicine Association in the UK.
ACS is also an approved member of the Association of Coaching; the Gold Coast Education Network and the British Association of Learning & Development, amongst other organisations.
This course already articulates with Advanced Diplomas and Diplomas conducted by this school, and with degrees offered by Warnborough University in the U.K.
Modules
Note that each module in the Diploma In Counselling & Psychology is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.
Stream Modules: Research Project I Research Project II Workshop I orIndustry Meetings or Approved Work Experience (Workplace Projects)
Scope of Counselling
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.
Counsellors may work in any of the following situations:
Churches & Welfare organisations employ counsellors on all levels -from minimally trained volunteers to highly trained professionals
Careers Advisors in Employment Agencies, with Resume Writing Services, Employment Support offices (government, universities, etc)
Life Coaches, Food/Weight Consultants, etc
Youth Workers, Social Workers, Family Support Services, Health Support Services
Funeral Services
Industrial relations negotiators, union representatives
Teachers, Lecturers, School & College support staff
Support staff for medical practitioners -chiropractors, doctors, physiotherapists etc, are increasingly using counsellors to provide a supplementary service through their clinic
The scope and nature of counselling keeps changing, and job opportunities keep changing -It is a certainty that some of the best opportunities you will find after graduating, have probably not even been conceived at the time you commence your study. This is the nature of today's world!
Extract of Course Notes from Counselling Skills I
Ending the Counselling Process: Sometimes, the counsellor may feel that the client has resolved their issues and does not need to come back. When this occurs, the counsellor should always tell the client that they are welcome back if they feel it is necessary, but as a professional counsellor, you do not see the need for them to continue at the present time.
If you are unsure about asking them back for further appointments because you yourself feel anxious about them not taking up your offer, then it is probably better to ask. At worst they will decline. It is also harder for the client to make an appointment than break one.
Where you feel the need for ongoing sessions, it is important to give the client an idea of the possible duration of the counselling relationship. This should help to counter the client’s insecurities about future sessions. It is often clear to both counsellor and client when it is time to end the whole counselling process. In some instances, particularly where dependency has occurred, it might not be so obvious. We will discuss dependency in the next lesson.
It is therefore necessary for the counsellor to frequently review the progress that is being made in the sessions and update the goals that are being achieved.If progress is not being made and goals are not being achieved, then it may be necessary for the counsellor to address this issue with their supervisor.
It is of course possible that the counsellor’s own unresolved issues are interfering. It could also be that the counsellor does not have the necessary skills in their repertoire to deal with the issues that the client has raised. Supervision may help the counsellor to deal with a client who seems unable to change. Another option is to suggest to the client that they are referred on to someone else who may be better able to help them. Of course it is important too, to note that some clients will not change.
Ending the process may be similar to ending other relationships, and it may be necessary for the counsellor to use questions to challenge the client. They may ask the client how it feels to end the relationship and other similar questions.
International Recognition (IARC; CMA membership in the UK) Highly qualified and experienced tutors Ethical and "Green" More choice and Flexibility Unlimited one on one access to tutors More focus on learning, less on assessment Outstanding track record - graduates actually succeed!
Our Bookshop stocks a range of psychology and counselling books
If you are unsure about doing a course (after all, it is a big committment), another option is to start by reading a book.
A good place to start is the Counselling Handbook, written by a group of our course developers and tutors, who together have more than 100 years of experience in counselling. This is concise, practical, and relatively easy to read; and has been developed with our counselling courses in mind: to complement the things you learn in those courses.
Download a few sample pages for free Read it on a computer, lap top, i pad, iphone, or book reader
Other Psychology books: http://www.acsbookshop.com/books_productcategory.aspx?id=14
Careers information: http://www.thecareersguide.com/articles.aspx?category=14
Psychology & Counselling articles: http://www.acs.edu.au/psychol/
