DBS - HDip Psychology

pheasant tail wrote: »

Hi all

Just looking for a little advice. So I have decided I am going to undertake a HDip in psychology in DBS and just wondering on the best route. There are 2 options, HDip in psychology, and the other in counselling and psychotherapy and I am unsure of the best route. I know before deciding I should ideally know what exactly I want to do afterwards in particular, and that I am a little unsure off, but I do know I want to make this journey into psychology, that's for sure.

I initially wanted to do clinical, and therefore would have to take the Psychology route but I am now leaning toward the psychotherapy road but I'm unsure. I know clinical is a long road. If I was to take the psychotherapy route does that close a lot of doors to me afterwards? Maybe I would be best doing the psychology and keeping my options open and could then take-up psychotherapy.... Perhaps there are some people hear that could provide me with a little insight that would be much appreciated. I was suppose to be attending the open day on monday but I am now unable to make it. Thanks in advance!

Clinical Psychology = degree in psychology plus PhD in Clinical Psychology. It's really hard to get into the PhD as there is a LOT of competition. Usually involves a MSc + plus lots of relevant experience, often gained by working as a volunteer as there are few Assistant Psychologist places.

Have you looked at the various forums and professional bodies for information?

I've met terrible counsellors from both accreditation bodies (IACP and IAHIP) so personally i don't want to pay an extra 15,000 - 30,000 euro for something that wouldn't guarantee I'd be a good counsellor or my clients would have better outcomes at the end of it but ANYWAY that's my personal prejudice, don't pay attention to that.

Can you definitely get IAHIP accreditation with the DBS masters? I didn't know that. Edit: yeah i found it, that's cool

How many years and how much money would those two courses be in total? Don't forget you'll have to pay for supervision and personal counselling, that adds an extra few thousand

The last i heard was CORU were talking about calling anyone with a BSc or BA a counsellor and anyone with a Masters a psychotherapist, but it is not clear which masters programs will qualify for that and it is suggested that not all will. There is a lot of conflicting information floating around

Other Dublin schools I know of offering masters in psychotherapy (various types and focuses) are IIACP, PCI and ICHAS, not to mention the state schools like Trinity and UCD. Don't decide yet that DBS is where you want to do your masters,a̶f̶a̶i̶k̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶l̶y̶ ̶o̶p̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶p̶s̶y̶c̶h̶o̶a̶n̶a̶l̶y̶s̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶c̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶ ̶f̶a̶v̶o̶u̶r̶i̶t̶e̶ ̶t̶y̶p̶e̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶p̶s̶y̶c̶h̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶a̶p̶y̶.̶ ̶ ̶W̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶s̶c̶h̶o̶o̶l̶s̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶e̶r̶ ̶M̶a̶s̶t̶e̶r̶s̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶f̶o̶c̶i̶ ̶o̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶n̶ ̶p̶s̶y̶c̶h̶o̶a̶n̶a̶l̶y̶s̶i̶s̶ ̶a̶c̶c̶e̶p̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶D̶B̶S̶ ̶H̶.̶d̶i̶p̶ ̶f̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶t̶u̶d̶e̶n̶t̶ ̶w̶h̶o̶s̶e̶ ̶u̶n̶d̶e̶r̶g̶r̶a̶d̶u̶a̶t̶e̶ ̶c̶o̶u̶r̶s̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶r̶e̶l̶a̶t̶e̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶p̶s̶y̶c̶h̶o̶l̶o̶g̶y̶ ̶(̶m̶a̶y̶b̶e̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶r̶s̶ ̶i̶s̶,̶ ̶i̶ ̶d̶o̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶k̶n̶o̶w̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶i̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶t̶ ̶i̶'̶d̶ ̶f̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶o̶u̶t̶)̶?̶

Edit: OH i just looked and they do have a masters in integrative psychotherapy so that's good. I assume your client work doesn't start till then. This does look like a good route, the price is about the same as PCI and in the end you get a Masters. i don't have a level 8 degree already so it wouldn't have worked for me so i don't have to wonder about what might have been. Of course if i could go back in time a few years what i'd do would be their undergrad in psych that's only 800 a year and then do a h dip and then blah blah blah

Hi guys!

Sorry to resurrect this thread, I'm sure you're sick of it.

I'm in the same boat; I want to do psychotherapy and already have an L8 BA (in Psychology) so I'm not enthusiastic about doing a whole other BA. My inclination is to do the H Dip plus the MA from DBS which would give me a diploma and a Masters for the same time period (4 years) as the BA.

However it would be more expensive this way than just doing the BA.

Did you guys ever figure out any pro's and cons in terms not just of cost but of accreditation etc?

I'm finding it a real muddle, especially with people mentioning CORU regulation now on top of everything else.

Cheers

Thanks for the reply SuperRabbit!

The whole counsellor/psychotherapist distinction with CORU is a bit odd, but I guess it would be safer to get to Level 9 (ie Masters) to make sure I don't limit my opportunities. And of course I'd be much more motivated to do that than a second BA.

In terms of cost, you're actually right now that I've looked at it more - they're much of a muchness.

Fees per year are similar so (BA X4 years) would be roughly equivalent in cost to (H Dip Psychotherapy X 2 years and a Masters X2 years).

I'm looking at DBS for the H Dip and then after that I'll see how I feel about them and whether to pursue a Masters elsewhere (IICP seems good, and I believe it's been mentioned on other threads? Will depend on course structure and work schedule among other things, as I work full time).

I'm set on psychotherapy with a view to being a counselling psychologist in the long term, just for context. Not looking at clinical or anything like that.

Haha I will certainly keep you posted on any homogenization or otherwise of modules I come across!

And if I come back here with queries any advice would be much appreciated

thanks

trainers did tell us back in september that it will be 4 years until new rules in play re advertising without accreditation

That's cool! Where was that announced or where did they hear that?

GretschFalcon wrote: »

Thanks for the reply SuperRabbit!

The whole counsellor/psychotherapist distinction with CORU is a bit odd, but I guess it would be safer to get to Level 9 (ie Masters) to make sure I don't limit my opportunities. And of course I'd be much more motivated to do that than a second BA.

In terms of cost, you're actually right now that I've looked at it more - they're much of a muchness.

Fees per year are similar so (BA X4 years) would be roughly equivalent in cost to (H Dip Psychotherapy X 2 years and a Masters X2 years).

I'm looking at DBS for the H Dip and then after that I'll see how I feel about them and whether to pursue a Masters elsewhere (IICP seems good, and I believe it's been mentioned on other threads? Will depend on course structure and work schedule among other things, as I work full time).

I'm set on psychotherapy with a view to being a counselling psychologist in the long term, just for context. Not looking at clinical or anything like that.

Just for clarification, you want to do a H. Dip and Masters in psychotherapy, qualify as a psychotherapist, and then pursue counselling psychology?

It seems very roundabout. Why go down the psychotherapy route at all, when you could simply move onto a Masters in psychology and then try to get a place on the counselling psychology doctorate?

You say you don't want to pursue clinical or anything like that, but... you realise that counselling and clinical psychs emerge with equitable qualifications and work in the same jobs?

GretschFalcon wrote: »

Thanks for the reply SuperRabbit!

The whole counsellor/psychotherapist distinction with CORU is a bit odd, but I guess it would be safer to get to Level 9 (ie Masters) to make sure I don't limit my opportunities. And of course I'd be much more motivated to do that than a second BA.

In terms of cost, you're actually right now that I've looked at it more - they're much of a muchness.

Fees per year are similar so (BA X4 years) would be roughly equivalent in cost to (H Dip Psychotherapy X 2 years and a Masters X2 years).

I'm looking at DBS for the H Dip and then after that I'll see how I feel about them and whether to pursue a Masters elsewhere (IICP seems good, and I believe it's been mentioned on other threads? Will depend on course structure and work schedule among other things, as I work full time).

I'm set on psychotherapy with a view to being a counselling psychologist in the long term, just for context. Not looking at clinical or anything like that.

I think maybe you're thinking you can combine your psychotherapy HDip and an MA to do counselling psychology? Unfortunately it won't work that way. If you study psychotherapy you can call yourself a psychotherapist, or a counselling psychotherapist. If you want to be a Counselling Psychologist in the long term you'll have to do the doctorate in Counselling Psychology. In which case it would be better for you to go straight on to that. There's one in Trinity and there was one in UCC too, not sure if it's still running, there isn't much of a difference in the fees though - it's fairly pricey.

Hi there, I was just offered a place in higher diploma in councelling and psyhotherapy at DBS but still unsure with costs and everything. I was wondering since you're doing the course, would you be able to give me an insight into the course ? I know it's two evenings a week but what days are you normally in and the times? thanks

hi all,

wondering can anyone let me know about the DBS HDip in Counselling and Psychotherapy, what evenings does it run and what are the hours? The website isn't clear as to whether it's two or three evenings a week. Any info on the teachers too would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to decide between the DBS HDip and the UCD HDip in Psychotherapy Studies. Many thanks!