Foundation Certificate in Counselling Skills and Studies

Certificate in Therapeutic Skills and Studies

Programme Leader: Heather Fowlie

Introduction

The Foundation Certificate in Counselling Skills and Studies is in two(2) parts. Part 1 can be taken as a standalone option and participants will have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge in Part 2. Participants need to attend both parts of the course to gain the Foundation Certificate.

Who is the course for?

The course is suitable for those who are considering pursuing a career in counselling and are at the beginning of their explorations. It will also be relevant and of benefit to anyone wishing to enhance their interpersonal skills in their work, for example, nursing, social work, youth work and teaching. It will also be of interest to those who are curious about what might happen during the course of counselling, for example what do people come for, what do people bring, what helps, what is healing and importantly, what is not? Throughout the course participants will have the opportunity to think about the personal commitment and qualities desirable in being a counsellor; is it for me, what am I letting myself in for, how do I support myself?

What is the content of the course?

During the course participants will be introduced to the history and roots of counselling, its value base and core concepts. We will draw, in particular, on basic ideas from the major counselling and psychotherapy approaches that are studied at Metanoia, namely Gestalt, Humanistic, Integrative, Person-Centred, and Transactional Analysis. We will ask straightforward questions about these approaches, for example where did they come from, and what are their similarities and differences?

We will identify what the conditions desirable are in counselling and what might bring about healing and change; why do people change and how does this come about in counselling?

Because counselling emphasises the quality and importance of the relationship that exists between counsellor and client (the working pair), we will take time to understand the components of this relationship, including ideas of mutuality, respect, autonomy, congruence, curiosity and empathic attunement. We will learn about, discuss and most importantly practice the skills that are central to developing this kind of helping relationship.

The aim in Part 1 is to provide a learning opportunity for participants to thoroughly familiarise themselves with the foundations or nuts and bolts of counselling skills and, in Part 2, take a deeper look at the counselling process itself. As such the course is adaptable and will take into account the interests and needs of the group. Learning will be through group discussion, personal experience, exercises, presentations and didactic teaching.

Key Facts

Course level:
Certificate in Therapeutic Skills and Studies
Terms:
not specified

Intakes

  • 2019
    Year: 2019 not specified
    Dates: 01 January 2019 - 30 November -0001
    Application Deadline: 01 April 2020
    Cost: 5,700