Counselling

Program Overview

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This one-year part-time University Certificate in Counselling from Staffordshire University equips students with essential counselling skills, ethics, and personal development. Delivered by experienced counsellors, the program prepares students for further study or enhances skills for professionals in fields where counselling is beneficial. Graduates can pursue careers as qualified counsellors or utilize their enhanced counselling abilities in existing roles.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

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Counselling - University Certificate - Staffordshire University

This one-year part-time certificate program provides students with the essential foundation to begin their counselling career or to enhance their skills in existing roles where counselling skills are beneficial.

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Objectives:

• Equip students with practical experience and theoretical knowledge of counselling skills, ethics, and personal development.
• Prepare students for further study to become a qualified counsellor.
• Provide relevant skills for professionals in various fields, such as teachers and nurses, who wish to enhance their counselling skills.

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Description:

• Delivered by qualified and practising counsellors with extensive experience.
• Develops skills through working in small groups with other students.
• Features a dedicated counselling facility with a specialist base room, three counselling rooms, and video observation suite.

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Other:

• Successful completion leads to the award of a University Certificate in Counselling.

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Outline:

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Course Content:

• Three scheduled hours per week for lectures, tuition, and group sessions
• Five different counselling theories taught, providing students with a broad understanding and preparing them for further studies.
• Aligns with the professional training courses offered by Staffordshire University in terms of counselling theories taught.
• Personal development through journaling and reflection on experiences and beliefs.

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Modules:

• Counselling Standards and Ethical Awareness (20 Credits)
• Exploring Theory and Developing Counselling Skills (20 Credits)
• Developing Critical Reflexivity in Counselling (20 Credits)

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Teaching:

• Interactive lectures by experienced and practicing counsellors.
• Practical skills development through simulations with peers in small groups, allowing for experiencing both client and counsellor roles.
• Guided training in reflective cycles to enhance personal awareness and reflexivity, further developed through weekly personal development groups facilitated by tutors and individual journal entries.
• Compulsory personal development workshop day held within the first month of the program.

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Assessment:

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Method:

• Essay comparing two counselling theories.
• Assessment of recorded counselling skills and session critique.
• Summary of personal development journal, reflecting on self-awareness and changes made towards becoming a counsellor.
• Minimum 80% attendance required for successful completion.

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Additional Support:

• Academic Skills team provides support in various areas like study skills, written English, academic writing, research skills, critical thinking, revision, and time management.
• Student Inclusion Services support students with additional needs.

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Feedback:

• Weekly feedback on skills development and peer feedback at group sessions.
• Assignment feedback within 20 days of submission.
• Two tutorials offered per year.
• Opportunities to provide feedback on program experience.

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Learning Support:

• Reading and research assignments with recommended books available in University library and online.

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Teaching:

• Experienced and practicing counsellors deliver the program, utilizing interactive teaching methods.
• Dedicated tutor support for skills development and personal development.
• Opportunity to give and receive peer feedback during group sessions.
• Personal development workshops and individual journal entries for reflection and self-awareness development.

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Careers:

• Many graduates pursue further study to become qualified counsellors.
• Staffordshire University offers BACP-accredited professional development programs, including a Postgraduate Diploma and MSc course, to those who wish to become qualified counsellors.
• Career opportunities for qualified counsellors include:
• NHS counselling
• Voluntary organizations
• Schools
• Private practice
• Many graduates already work in roles where counselling skills are beneficial, including:
• Teaching
• Chaplaincy
• Nursery nursing
• NHS professions
• University mentoring
• Helping professions in the voluntary sector

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Other:

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Entry Requirements:

• A reference
• Successful completion of a level 2 Introduction to Basic Counselling Skills course or equivalent (a 30-hour face-to-face skills course)

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Facilities:

• £30 million Science Centre with state-of-the-art laboratories.
• Counselling suite with practice rooms, interview cubicles, base room for teaching, and peer observation space.
• Dedicated counselling suite with cubicles, base room for teaching and peer observation of counselling sessions.

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Additional Costs:

• Accommodation and living costs are not included.

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Financial support:

• Available through scholarships and bursaries.

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Start Date:

• 23 September 2024