Module 1: Psychological
Theories and Perspectives This module introduces the history and systems of Psychology. Students will have a broad overview of the diverse fields of the psychological discipline. Students will also be exposed to the important theories and concepts concerning developmental psychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology and abnormal psychology.
Module 2: Family Systems Therapy
This module introduces candidates to Family Systems Theory and its therapeutic techniques, with the focus on the relational aspects of human problems. The works of Alfred Adler, Murray Bowen, Virginia Satir and other family therapists are emphasised and applied to understanding a wide range of human behaviours, where family relationships are seen as an important factor in the psychological well-being.
Candidates are taught how to adopt the “systems” perspective into their work as counsellors and therapists by developing a greater understanding of the formal intervention techniques, strengths and limitations of this approach, and the challenges they might encounter in applying these in clinical practice.
Module 3: Counselling Skills
This module focuses on equipping students with the counselling skills necessary for a counsellor. Students will acquire skills in attending, active listening, paraphrasing, summarising, reducing resistance and promoting change through psychotherapy.
Module4: Counselling Methods
Students will learn the different approaches to the major methods of psychotherapy. The module focuses onto the techniques, concepts, strengths and weaknesses of the diverse approaches in psychoanalytic therapy, Cognitive Behaviour therapy, and Client centred therapy.
Module 5: Counselling Ethics
This module trains students to develop a keen understanding legal and ethical framework in counselling. Topics will include confidentiality, malpractice, cultural issues, multiple relationships, discrimination and organizational regulations.
Module 6: Group Counselling
This module exposes students to the benefits and disadvantages of group counselling. Students will acquire skills to facilitate group counselling, understand the dynamics of group counselling and learn to manage issues arising from group counselling.
Module 7: Crisis Intervention
Students will acquire skills to identify and assess the different types of crisis such as suicide intervention and counselling dangerous clients. This module trains the students to employ the different intervention methods when counselling a person in a crisis situation.
Module 8: Addiction Intervention
This module helps students gain an in-depth understanding of the different forms of addiction and the social impact they create. The module will focus on assessing the stages and cycles of addiction and train students to implement strategies to break the cycle in order to promote change. Students will also learn the techniques of relapse prevention and working with the addict’s family.
Module 9: Counselling Children
This module will help students develop an understanding to the different emotional and behavioural issues children go through when dealing with grief, loss, academic issues, peer pressure and broken families. Students will acquire skills to counsel children in home and educational settings and be able to apply techniques such as Art therapy and Play therapy to help children express themselves.
Module 10: Practicum: Counselling Skills Practice
Counselling Skills Practice builds on the foundation of Counselling Skills, Counselling Methods, and Counselling Ethics to develop more advanced assessment and counselling skills for working with diverse client groups. This module is a 30-hour of blended delivery of skills in case presentations, demonstration of intervention plans based on evidence-based counselling modalities, and advanced skills in working with diverse themes and narratives. The learning activities provide an opportunity for self-reflection, role-plays and ongoing practice under the supervision of an experienced clinical supervisor.