| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2024-09-01 | - |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
The Diploma in Counselling at Wrexham University provides a comprehensive part-time program emphasizing the person-centred approach, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and personal development to pursue a career as a professional counsellor. Through a blend of lectures, workshops, and clinical placements, students develop essential counselling skills while fostering reflective practice, ethical decision-making, and self-awareness. The program prepares students for employment in various settings, including the NHS, charitable organizations, and private practice.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Diploma in Counselling at Wrexham University offers a comprehensive qualification in the field of counselling, equipping students with the theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and personal development to pursue a career as a professional counsellor.
Objectives:
The program aims to:
- Provide a general professional qualification in counselling.
- Enhance the skills and understanding of those working in related professions.
- Prepare students to work with adult clients.
- Develop a deep understanding of the person-centred approach to counselling.
- Emphasize personal development, self-awareness, and psychological maturity.
- Foster reflective practice, ethical decision-making, and professional conduct.
Description:
The Diploma is a part-time program, spanning two years. It is grounded in the person-centred approach, emphasizing empathic, authentic relationships to develop effective therapeutic interactions. The program incorporates clinical placements, providing real-world experience and the opportunity to apply learned skills.
Outline:
- Year 1 (Level 4):
- Modules:
- Person-Centred Counselling Skills (1)
- Introducing Person Centred Counselling Theory
- Person-Centred Counselling Skills (2)
- Person-Centred Counselling Theory and Self-Development
- Skills for Counselling Placement They gain practical experience through peer-to-peer counselling practice, analyzing their effectiveness and reflecting on their personal development.
- Year 2 (Level 5):
- Modules:
- Supervised Trainee Counselling Placement (1)
- Understanding Client Issues in Counselling Practice
- Evidencing Trainee Practice Effectiveness in Counselling
- Supervised Trainee Counselling Practice (2)
- Focus: Building upon the skills and knowledge from Year 1, Year 2 delves deeper into advanced counselling practices. The clinical placement is undertaken in this year, allowing students to apply their skills with real clients in an agency setting. Students also engage in personal development and self-care groups to enhance their self-awareness.
Assessment:
- Methods: The program employs a diverse range of assessment methods, including:
- Self, peer, and tutor assessments
- Recordings and critiques of transcribed counselling sessions
- Live practice with peers (Triads)
- Presentations
- Theory and reflection written assignments
- Case studies
- Portfolios of evidence
- Clinical supervisor and placement reports
- Criteria: Assessments focus on evaluating:
- Application of theoretical knowledge
- Development of counselling skills
- Reflective practice
- Ethical decision-making
- Professionalism
Teaching:
- Methods: The program utilizes a blended approach to teaching and learning, encompassing:
- Lectures/seminars
- Practical skills workshops
- Presentations
- Audiovisual material
- Experiential and creative tasks
- Clinical placements
- Personal development group sessions facilitated by experienced and qualified counsellors/psychotherapists
- Faculty: Teaching staff are all qualified counsellors.
- Unique Approaches: Wrexham University is committed to supporting students in maximizing their academic potential, offering workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-taking, and preparing for assignments. Students have access to academic skills tutors and can receive support from the University's Inclusion Services.
Careers:
- Potential Career Paths:
- Charitable organizations
- NHS (e.g., GP surgeries)
- Private practice
- Organisations as part of health and wellbeing initiatives
- High schools in Wales
- Outcomes:
- Graduates have secured employment in a variety of settings, including the NHS, the charitable sector, and educational institutions.
- Requirements:
- A recognized qualification from a university is increasingly important for aspiring counsellors.
- CPD: The course may be of interest to those in helping professions (nurses, social workers, psychologists, teachers) seeking ongoing professional development.
Other:
- The program requires 100 client contact hours to complete.
- Students may need to continue in placement after the teaching component of the program to reach the required contact hours.
- The program includes 450 hours of contact teaching time.
- Occupational health checks and DBS checks are conditions of a place on the course.
