Counselling Skills

Overview

This course aims to meet the needs of people who require an introductory training in Counselling for use in their existing work or life situations. Additionally, the course aims to provide a foundational introduction for those students who wish to pursue further training in Counselling.

Dual Relationships

Due to the personal and experiential nature of the course, it is generally not possible to have staff or students with significant existing personal or professional relationships in the same course group. Where possible, every effort is made to overcome this difficulty by placing them in separate groups. Oftentimes this solution is not possible and in these  instances, the dual relationship may prevent the applicant from being offered a place on the course at that time.

Personal Therapy

Students are required to undertake a minimum of 20 sessions of personal therapy during the One Year Certificate Course. The cost of this is separate to the course and is arranged directly between the student and the therapist.

Course Delivery

• Full-time (delivered evenings and weekends/career-friendly hours).

The course is offered over two semesters from September to May. Each semester has 5 modules. Dates are arranged when the course begins. Attendance at all sessions is a requirement.

The course is offered on a full-time basis for the duration of the academic year as follows:

• Theory and Application Programme – one evening per week – Mondays 6.30pm – 9.30pm.
• Counselling Skills Workshops – one additional evening every four to five weeks 6.30pm – 9.30pm.
• Experiential Group Process: Either 10 Saturdays (10am to 5pm) or a combination of Saturdays and evenings (6.30pm to 9.30pm), or a Friday afternoon/evening spread throughout the Dates for these are arranged when the course begins.

Award

The One Year Certificate in Counselling Skills is awarded by Munster Technological University on the basis of satisfactory attendance as well as the submission of written work and the satisfactory completion of practical and experiential assignments. The Certificate recognises that the student has successfully completed an introductory training in Counselling Skills which should enable him/her to practice basic counselling skills within his/her existing role.

NB: It is not a professional qualification in Counselling and does not qualify the holder to practice as a professional counsellor.

What will I study?

Modules

• Theory and Application Programme
• Counselling Skills Workshops
• Experiential Group Process

Entry Requirements

Please read the following information and submit the required forms.

For students applying for Academic Year 2024/2025, please complete the Supplementary Information Form and send it directly to graham.gillemerson@mtu.ie by 11^th April 2024

Applicants must:

• Applicants must be 26 years of age or older on January 1st of year of application.
• Have availed of a minimum of ten one to one, consecutive counselling sessions in the last four years (weekly or fortnightly) with an accredited/pre-accredited counsellor affiliated to IACP, IAHIP, BACP or other professional counselling body.
• Be assessed through interview.
• Submit two references. (The referees should be people who have known you for some substantial time, who are not related to you, and who are in a position to comment objectively on your readiness for the course).
  
  Please download a copy of the Reference Form – One Year Certificate in Counselling Skills and forward it to each referee for completion.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the references have been submitted to graham.gillemerson@mtu.ie by the closing date.
  
  

  Download Reference Form

• Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend for interview.

• NOTE: When submitting your application please ensure that you are using the most recent ‘uploadable forms’. They will be available when the Online Application Process opens so it is important that you do not submit an older version. 

Applications will open in February for the course beginning September 2024

1. Applicants will be required to pay an acceptance fee of €500 online if a place on a course is offered. This fee is deductible from the overall course fee. Note: You will not be charged for applying for the programme by clicking the 'apply online' button, you are only asked to pay an acceptance fee if a place is offered to you and you wish to accept it.
   
   
2. For students applying for Academic Year 2024/2025, please complete the Supplementary Information Form and upload it to the section entitled “Supporting Documentation” on your online application by 11th April 2024
   
   Please download and complete this form
   
   Supplementary Information
   
   Your application will not be processed unless this form – Supplementary Information Form – One Year Certificate in Counselling Skills – is completed and submitted.
   
   
3. Two references are also required. The reference forms must be downloaded and forwarded to each referee. You can download the Reference Form – One Year Certificate in Counselling Skills by clicking the 'Overview Tab' above.
   
   
4. Applicants will be required to attend for interview.

What is RPL?

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is when formal recognition is given for what you already know prior to starting on a programme or module. With recognition of prior learning the focus is on learning and not on experience as such. You can apply for RPL in any MTU accredited programme or module. Programmes which are accredited by professional bodies or any external awarding bodies may have their own procedures for RPL which you should refer to.

Fees

€2,000

Please note that applicants will be required to pay an acceptance fee of €500 online if a place on a course is offered. This fee is deductible from the overall course fee. 

Note: You will not be charged for applying for the programme by clicking the 'apply now' button; you are only asked to pay an acceptance fee if a place is offered to you, and you wish to accept it.