NUI Certificate in Counselling Skills
Introduction
The NUI Certificate in Counselling Skills seeks to meet the growing need that people are experiencing in their personal and professional lives for a course concerned with introducing them to the communication skills central to human relationships.
Whereas the course may serve, in some instances as an entry point to a variety of further education options, it does not aim to train people in the field of therapeutic counselling.
Course Aims
The course seeks to provide you with:
• an understanding of the notion of counselling skills and be able to differentiate it from the activity of counselling
• the capacity to identify and to demonstrate key listening skills within appropriate models and frameworks
• an understanding of the role of personal development within a counselling skills approach to interpersonal communication
• a deeper appreciation of how you function, behave and reflect in relationships in a group setting
• an understanding of the key principles of the ethical use of counselling skills in non-professional settings
Content
Introductory Module:
This module may include the following themes:
• Introductions
• Course outline and course principles
• Assessments and Assignments
Module 1: Skills and modules of counselling
This module may include the following themes:
• Definitions of counselling skills and counselling
• Difference between the exercise of counselling skills, counselling and related activities
• Principles of counselling and core conditions
• Communication skills and blocks to communication
Module 2: A framework for counselling
This module may include the following themes:
• Basic models of counselling
• Interviews involving counselling skills: setting boundaries, confidentiality, contracts
• Using counselling skills in non-therapeutic settings
• Ethical issues in the use of counselling skills
Module 3: Special issues in counselling
This module will involve a group research project on topics such as:
• Bereavement
• Depression
• Loss
• Addiction
Module 4: Personal development
This module may include the following themes:
• Awareness of self and listening skills
• Values clarification
• Prejudices
• On-going negotiation of the impact of the course
Module 5: Groupwork
This module may include the following themes:
• Patterns in groups
• Group dynamics and process
• Individual autonomy and collective responsibility
• Awareness of oneself in groups
• Encouraging ‘here and now’ dialogue
Please note that the content may vary in response to students’ needs.
Admission Requirements
• Participants must be 23 years or over.
Issues to consider before applying
Other than the age requirement stated above, there is no formal selection procedure.
However, we strongly recommend that you seriously consider the following before applying:
Participants on the course will be expected to:
• Have a satisfactory level of maturity and selfresponsibility as evidenced by your capacity to reflect on relationships.
• Be willing to engage with group activities and group learning.
• Have a level of literacy that will enable you to complete the assignments (see under assessment requirements).
• Have a commitment to learn through dialogue and reflection on experience.
• Have an openness to explore interpersonal challenge and conflict.
Should you have any difficulty in deciding whether or not to apply for the course, please contact Mary Corbally at 01 708 3784 to discuss your application.
However, responsibility for the decision remains with the applicant.
ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
• 85% Minimum Attendance
• At the end of Semester 1 the following assignments will be completed:
1.Counselling skills interview
2.Personal statement based on the Learning Journal (1,000 words).
At the end of the course the following assignments will be completed:
1.Essay (1,500 words)
2.Counselling skills interview
3.Group Research Project
4.Personal statement based on the Learning Journal (1,000 words).
Course Duration
The course is 100-hours over one academic year. It may consist of 25 x 3-hour sessions together with 4 Saturdays, or 20 x 3-hour sessions together with 6 Saturdays. For specific information please contact the relevant venue.
Fee
€1,255 - €1,430 (depending on centre)
Location
Arklow, Further Education Centre 0402 31665 Tues 7 – 10 pm
Ashbourne Community School (01) 835 3066 Check with venue
Athlone Community College, Retreat Road 090 64 72625 Mon 7 – 10 pm
Ballsbridge College of Further Education (01) 6684806 Tues 6 - 9 pm
Ballyfermot College of Further Education, (01) 6269421 Wed 7 – 10 pm
Ballymun, Trinity Comprehensive School (01) 8420654 Wed 7 - 10 pm
Bray, Institute of Further Education (01) 2866111 Mon 7 - 10 pm
Carrick-on-Shannon 071 9620005/ Wed 7 - 10 pm (01) 7083784
Castlebar, Parish Centre, Chapel St (01) 7083784 Tues 7 – 10 pm
Cavan Institute 049 4361881 check with venue
Clane, Scoil Mhuire 045 868255 Thurs 7 – 10 pm
Coolmine Community School, Clonsilla (01) 8214583/ Mon 7 - 10 pm (01) 8214141
Donahies Community School, Streamville Rd. (01) 8473522 Wed 7 - 10 pm
Dun Laoghaire, College of Further Education, Cumberland St. (01) 2809676 Mon. 7 - 10 pm
Drogheda Community Services, 041 9836084 Thurs 7 - 10 pm
Ennis, Adult Education Centre, Clonroad Business Park 065 6829432 Tues 7 - 10 pm
Kilkenny, St. Kierans College 056 7775910 Wed evening
Knocklyon Youth & Community Centre 086 2025854/ (01) 4941279 Tues 9.30 – 1 pm
Longford, Templemichael College 043 45474 Mon 7 – 10 pm
NUI Maynooth (01) 7083784 Thurs 7 - 10 pm.
Naas, St. Patrick's Community College 045 898923 Wed 7 - 10 pm
Old Bawn Community School (01) 4526137 Tues 6.45 - 9.45 pm
Trim, Boyne Community School 046 9438000 Mon 7 – 10 pm
Tullamore 05793 51392 Thurs 7 - 10 pm
All courses will involve 4-6 Saturdays
Each centre will have these dates available on the first night of the class.
NB It is important to emphasise that this is not a therapeutic course. It does not offer a professional qualification in counselling. The course will be of special interest to those who are involved (paid or unpaid) in working with people, especially those in the caring professions.
