The first stage of the program, the Post Graduate Certificate in Counselling Skills, Theories and Self Awareness will appeal to learners who are interested in incorporating counselling skills and theories into their existing professional practice and will appeal particularly but not exclusively to
teachers, nurses, social workers, faith-leaders, police officers, parents, line managers, workers in the charity and voluntary sectors and anyone interested in enhancing their interpersonal effectiveness and self-awareness in their professional and private lives.

The course has been designed to involve roughly 1200 hours of study. Successful completion of the Post Graduate Certificate leads to the award of 40 ECTS points. This award provides the entry point to the Post Graduate Diploma in Counselling Skills, Theories and Self-Awareness.

The PG Cert in Counselling Skills, Theories and Self-Awareness provides an overview of the evolution and development of four leading approaches to counselling (Humanistic, Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioural and Transpersonal) demonstrating a wide range of theories, tools and techniques which participants will be able to utilize to enhance their self-awareness and personal development and to incorporate within their own professional practice.

Learners will have to complete the four (4) core modules below. Each module is 10 ECTS points. Learners must accumulate a total of 40 ECTS points to graduate.

CNS700: Introduction to Humanistic Counselling Skills and Theories. 

An Overview of the Skills, Theories and Self-Awareness Techniques of:

• Abraham Maslow: An Exploration of the drive towards self-Actualization
• Martin Buber: The Characteristics of an I-Thou Relationship.
• Carl Rogers: The Core Conditions of the Person-Centred Approach.
• Fritz and Laura Perls: Gestalt Therapy for Awareness and Completion of Unfinished Business.

CNS703: Introduction to Psychodynamic Counselling Skills and Theories

An Overview of the Skills, Theories and Self-Awareness Techniques of:

• Sigmund Freud: Psychoanalysis; the original ‘Talking Cure’.
• Carl Jung: Analytical Psychology and the Archetypes of the Collective Unconscious.
• Melanie Klein: Object Relations Theory and the Primacy of Attachment, Frustration and Rejection.
• Alfred Adler: Individual Psychology, Social Interest and the Inferiority Complex.

CNS705: Introduction to Cognitive-Behavioural Counselling Skills and Theories

An Overview of the Skills, Theories and Self-Awareness Techniques of:

• Joseph Wolpe: Behaviour Therapy, Progressive Desensitization, Flooding and the Token Economy.
• Aaron Beck: Cognitive Therapy and the role of Negative Automatic Thoughts.
• Albert Ellis: Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy and the A-B-C Model of Emotional Disturbance.

CNS708: Introduction to Transpersonal Counselling Skills and Theories 

An Overview of the Skills, Theories and Self-Awareness Techniques of:

• Roberto Assagioli: Psychosynthesis, the Higher Self, Sub-Personalities and the Quest for Wholeness.
• Viktor Frankl: Logotherapy and the Search for Meaning and Purpose. The importance of Creative, Experiential and Attitudinal Values.

John Perry has over thirty years’ experience of working in education, as a teacher, college lecturer, student counsellor, mentor, university senior lecturer and pastoral tutor.

His passion is in offering coaching, counselling and/or mentoring to help learners to develop the confidence and motivation that comes from having high self-worth and a sense of purpose and direction.

In the course of his career, John has helped hundreds of learners to overcome their learning blocks and to replace limiting, self-defeating beliefs with empowering, positive alternatives.

John has developed his own unique approach to building psychological resilience, by helping people to take control of the challenges they face whilst generating positive emotions and a ‘can do’ attitude.

John uses coaching, counselling and mentoring skills to help learners to move in the direction of the constructive accomplishment of their innate potential. More specifically, his focus is on helping learners to over-come self-doubt and to grow in confidence, resilience and happiness.