Counselling course question

ire.angie

Hi,

I'd like to ask what do you think about finishing diploma in counselling in Counselling Center Cork. This is 2 years course (foundation+diploma+100 hours with client) to get qualifications. Its 4 years in CIT and you finished up with degree to get qualifications there, or I,m wrong?

dar100

I'm unsure what you are asking OP? Are you asking is the time-frame for a diploma two years, and the degree four years? If so, I would say that it sounds right.

Generally, diplomas in C&P are of 2-3 years duration, with a BA been three years, and hons degree four years.

You may be eligible to apply to an advanced year, maybe year 2 or 3 of the degree after completing the diploma, but this depends on the college policy.

Hope that helps

ire.angie

dar100 - thank you,

what I meant: on CIT website, is written about second (higher cert) year : "It is not a professional qualification in Counselling and does not qualify the holder to practice as a Professional Counselor. To achieve a professional qualification, it is necessary to complete a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Counselling and Psychotherapy, (Years 3 and 4)."
As far as I know getting professional qualifications in Canselincentre Cork is possible after foundation - first, diploma-second year and 100 hours with client. After that you can start practice, and work towards accreditation.

Can you explain, how it is possible and why somebody would pay for 4 years in cit, to start practice, and not for 2 years in Canceling Center Cork, and then start Bachelor (3+4 years) while practice and working towards accreditation.?
Maybe it is wright in CIT and its something wrong with Canceling Center (Mathew Str, Cork)?

kimberworth

It is very important to look at the changes that State Regulation may bring. Last year QQI (Quality & Qualifications Ireland) published a draft consultation on future education standards for Counselling & Psychotherapy post regulation. They sought submissions from organisations and individuals. They have provisionally suggested a minimum of a Level 8 qualification for Counsellors and a Level 9 for Psychotherapists.

It could be several years before the profession is regulated by Government but for anyone considering a training course should explore all possibilites.

The following is taken from the QQI document:

There is a wide variety of programmes of education and training purporting to prepare graduates for careers as counsellors or psychotherapists. The number of learners enrolled on these programmes is large. There are around twenty professional associations and a wide diversity of counselling and psychotherapeutic modalities. The professional associations may regulate their own members to an extent but practices vary. There is no statutory regulation of counselling or psychotherapy in Ireland but regulation under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 is anticipated within the next few years. The terms ‘counsellor’ and ‘psychotherapist’ have no specific legal protection. Colloquially the term counselling is widely used in diverse settings. The professional associations would generally favour the establishment of statutory regulation. Most of them are members of the Psychological Therapies Forum (PTF). There are no shared national educational standards for programmes of higher education and training save the generic award-type descriptors of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The 2007 position of the Psychological Therapies Forum that the minimum educational qualification in counselling which could provide the educational foundations for professional practice would be at NFQ Level 8 and that the minimum educational qualification in psychotherapy would at NFQ Level 9 is endorsed.

JuliusCaesar

Seeing that the attempt to bring in statutory regulation of psychotherapies/counselling failed in the UK and will not be attempted in Europe, I cannot see how Ireland will find a magic formula for doing so.

ire.angie

Counselling Center Cork provides Diploma Courses, but to become counsellor you need to do Foundation+two years Diploma+plus 100 hours with client what can take about a year. So it is 4 years, like in CIT but here you finish with Diploma and in CIT you finish with Degree....

burnt oak

Additional hours, both for your own personal counselling and supervised counselling practice ( where you pay for your own supervision in addition to course fees) are a requirement of all accredited courses. Most of these hours will be done during the training.

ire.angie

Thanks guys,
Do you know how may years it takes to become accredited counselor, after Diploma or Degree? I know that this is 450 hours with client, but how long it usually takes?
Thanks

burkmeister

It varies quite a lot. Have a look at the recent Inside Out interview with the head of IAPPC (www.iappcare.com):

http://www.tivoliinstitute.com/news.php

Be careful out there!

ame nuser

im looking into various counselling courses. Does anyone know which one is the best. Are there varieties or ones that you can specialise in certain areas? or do you study a general counselling course and then branch out or get to specialise yourself.

thanks

ame nuser

has anyone done the counselling course in cuin mhuire, athy? if so what's it like?
or any other counselling courses?
all info greatly appreciated

burnt oak

Hello ame nuser

I recommend you google the different approaches to counselling before committing to an expensive course(most counselling courses quite expensive.) There's Humanistic, or person centred; psychotherapy; Gestalt; solution focused brief therapy, Psychodynamic to start with. The route you take depends on your own personal aaptitides, interests and personality as well as how you want to work afterwards. Probably best to start with a general foundation course (certificate - usually part time over a few months to a year)and make an informed choice before moving on.
Also check out the accreditation bodies to ensure courses are accredited and to see what's on offer main ones are:
Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)
IAHIP | The Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative ...
iahip.org/
IAHIP is the professional body in Ireland for humanistic and integrative psychotherapy. Humanistic and integrative psychotherapy

Good luck with the research- well worth taking the time at this stage.

burnt oak

Just wondering if anyone has tried the Tivoli Institute's Foundation Course in Psychotherapy (online).........