Higher Diploma in Counselling Psychology
Introduction to the Programme
Outcome of the Programme
Upon completion of the programme, students will be awarded a Higher Diploma in Counselling Psychology with specialisation in one of the following fields:
- Children and Youth Counselling
- Relationship and Marital Counselling
- Workplace Counselling
- Counselling – Gambling and Addiction
*If students are interested in more than 1 area of specialisation, they may take additional modules as Specialist Certificates.
The programme has been designed for:
- Participants who have no experience in counselling but are willing to gain a basic entry qualification to professional counselling
- Professionals who wish to develop counselling skills and knowledge for application in their work areas such as in health, social services, education, customer service, human resource and supervisory work settings
The programme provides participants with:
- A professional basic entry qualification to counselling
- Opportunities for personal growth
- Acquisition of crucial interpersonal skills and related knowledge
The programme aims to:
- Provide a basic level of knowledge about major approaches to counselling and psychotherapy
- Provide training in basic counselling skills and practice
- Introduce the ethical and professional issues faced by counsellors in the human service industries
- Introduce a basic level of knowledge and skills in working with different client groups and specific client issues
Programme Features
- Integrate the 3 areas salient to counsellor training programmes:
- Personal growth
- Theoretical and research-based knowledge in counselling psychology
- Skills in counselling
- Students are taught a range of counselling skills that can be applied across work settings and client groups
- Focus on developing counsellor awareness including:
- How the student’s interpersonal style affects the counselling process
- Students will be taught to reflect and learn from their training experiences
Teaching and Assessment
The programme will be delivered through lectures, group discussions, practical demonstrations, video presentations, practical and experiential exercises, case studies, and role-plays. Students will be assessed through written assignments, projects, oral presentations, and videotaped counselling project/examination.
Introduction to the Programme
Outcome of the Programme
Upon completion of the programme, students will be awarded a Higher Diploma in Counselling Psychology with specialisation in one of the following fields:
- Children and Youth Counselling
- Relationship and Marital Counselling
- Workplace Counselling
- Counselling – Gambling and Addiction
*If students are interested in more than 1 area of specialisation, they may take additional modules as Specialist Certificates.
The programme has been designed for:
- Participants who have no experience in counselling but are willing to gain a basic entry qualification to professional counselling
- Professionals who wish to develop counselling skills and knowledge for application in their work areas such as in health, social services, education, customer service, human resource and supervisory work settings
The programme provides participants with:
- A professional basic entry qualification to counselling
- Opportunities for personal growth
- Acquisition of crucial interpersonal skills and related knowledge
The programme aims to:
- Provide a basic level of knowledge about major approaches to counselling and psychotherapy
- Provide training in basic counselling skills and practice
- Introduce the ethical and professional issues faced by counsellors in the human service industries
- Introduce a basic level of knowledge and skills in working with different client groups and specific client issues
Programme Features
- Integrate the 3 areas salient to counsellor training programmes:
- Personal growth
- Theoretical and research-based knowledge in counselling psychology
- Skills in counselling
- Students are taught a range of counselling skills that can be applied across work settings and client groups
- Focus on developing counsellor awareness including:
- How the student’s interpersonal style affects the counselling process
- Students will be taught to reflect and learn from their training experiences
Teaching and Assessment
The programme will be delivered through lectures, group discussions, practical demonstrations, video presentations, practical and experiential exercises, case studies, and role-plays. Students will be assessed through written assignments, projects, oral presentations, and videotaped counselling project/examination.
Upcoming Intakes
Programme Structure
Lecturer-Student Ratio
The lecturer-student ratio is set at 1:25 to ensure optimum teaching, learning and sharing between the lecturer and students.
Programme Duration
Total Duration: 10 months
Programme Delivery
Each classroom session is 3 hours, held once or twice a week.
Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission to the course, applicants must fulfil the following conditions:
- Diploma holders in any field
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Mature applicants not meeting the admission requirements are invited to apply as the program recognises relevant life experiences that students bring with them
- Application will be considered on a case-by-case basis; in some circumstances, interview might be needed
Course Modules (Core)
Students are required to complete 4 core modules:
- Introduction to Counselling
- Counsellor Awareness
- Counselling Skills
- Counselling Process and Model
- Cognitive Interventions
- The Therapeutic Alliance
Module Description: This unit provides an introduction and basic training in the nature and processes of counselling. Counselling skills including the microskills on which counselling activity is based such as listening, asking questions, reflecting, and clarifying, will be introduced. Students will be taught how to initiate counselling interactions, develop a counselling relationship and conduct a counselling session. The unit will also introduce the focus on counsellor awareness including students developing a basic awareness of how their own interpersonal styles, beliefs and internal processes affect the counselling process.
Total Number of Hours: 36 hours
Assessment Method: 2 assignments
- Major theories of Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Theory-based Intervention Techniques/Styles
- Human Lifespan Development
- Counselling Specific Client Groups
- Multicultural Issues in Counselling
- Ethical and Professional Issues in Counselling
Module Description: This unit will introduce major theoretical approaches to counselling and psychotherapy. It will provide theory-based practical intervention techniques that can be incorporated in the counselling process. This unit will focus on theoretical knowledge and issues related to human lifespan development and working with different client groups such as children, adolescents and the elderly. It will also introduce students to issues related to working with clients from different cultures. Relevant professional and ethical issues and their implications for everyday practice of counselling will also be covered in this module.
Total Number of Hours: 36 hours
Assessment Method: 3 assignments
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Grief and Loss
- Self-esteem Issues
- Addiction Issues
- Relationship Issues
- Trauma
Module Description: This unit introduces common problem areas that clients may present in counselling. Topics covered are stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-esteem issues, addiction issues, relationship issues and trauma. These specific client issues will be incorporated within the overall counselling model and process. Professional and ethical issues in counselling will be further addressed in this unit especially in relation to the specific client issues.
Total Number of Hours: 36 hours
Assessment Method: 3 assignments
- Personality Disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Dissociative Disorders
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Impulse Control and Conduct Disorder
- Sleep-Wake Disorders
Module Description: Covering a broad range of disorders, this module deals with the areas of psychopathology and abnormal behaviour. Students will be trained to identify and explain the various psychological disorders in terms of risk factors, symptoms and treatment options.
Total Number of Hours: 27 hours
Assessment Method: 1 assignment, 1 examination
Specialist Modules (Electives)
Students may choose from one of the following:
- Courtship love and Sexuality
- Youth Risk-Taking Behaviour
- Depression and Suicide
- Eating Disorder
- Child Abuse and Trauma
- Self-Mutilation
Module Description: This module aims to equip the individual with the know-how of detection and assessment of children & at-risk youths through gaining an appreciation and awareness of the dynamics that lie beyond the delinquency of a child (i.e. the child’s personality, the family, peer group pressures, socioeconomic issues of poverty and minority status).
Total number of hours: 36 hours
Assessment Method: 1 assignment
- Understanding Relationships, Divorce, Remarriage, Separation
- Family of Origin
- Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution
- Premarital Relationship and Counselling
- Techniques and Approaches to Relationship and Marital Counselling
- Couple Issues and Assessments
Module Description: This module aims to understand the dynamics of couple and relationships. It includes topics on different issues that couples faces such as addiction, finances, sexual intimacy, work stresses and others. This module equips individual in counselling couples using various techniques and approaches such as strategic marital therapy, imago therapy, premarital counselling, and emotion focused therapy.
Total number of hours: 36 hours
Assessment Method: 2 assignments
- Cooperative Communication
- Speaking and Listening Skills
- Culture Appropriate Communication
- Following and Delegating
- Supporting Effective Operation
- Problem Solving Techniques
Module Description: This module aims to understand people’s dynamics in workplace setting. It covers topics on communications process, cultural and individual differences, following and delegating, conflicts in workplace and problem solving techniques, and negotiation.
Total number of hours: 36 hours
Assessment Method: 1 assignment
- The Gambler’s Personality
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Motivational Interview
- Treatment Planning
- Family Counselling
- Relapse Prevention
Module Description: This module aims to tackle issues on addiction particularly in Gambling. It covers topics on the gambler’s personality, assessment and evaluation, and different treatment plans available to help people curb their addiction to gambling.
Total number of hours: 36 hours
Assessment Method: 2 assignments
*If students are interested in more than 1 area of specialisation, they may take additional modules as Specialist Certificates
Lecturers
- Ms Jane Eirene Santos-Kwok
- Ms Eng Kai Jun, Jovie
Click here to view the lecturers’ profile
Graduation Requirements
Student must achieve at least 75% attendance for all modules and a minimum passing mark of 50 for all assignments to be awarded the Higher Diploma in Counselling Psychology.
Fees and Charges
Fees are payable to: ACC Institute of Human Services Pte. Ltd.
| Course Fee | $6,540.00* | |||
| Registration Fee | $100.00 | |||
| Module 1 Textbook | $57.00 | |||
| Total Before GST | $6,697.00 | |||
| Total after GST | $7,299.73 |
|---|
*Textbooks for subsequent modules not included.
*Miscellaneous fees refer to the fees for Student Membership and 2 sessions of Personal Counselling as a Client (i.e. Student Counselling).
*Click here for Bursary and Financial Aid options.
Payment Schedule
Please be informed that the school will not collect one-time payment for this programme. Students will pay accordingly to the 2 instalments as seen below:
| 6 months Course Fee | $3,924.00 | |||
| Registration Fee | $100.00 | |||
| Module 1 Textbook | $57.00 | |||
| Total Before GST | $4,081.00 | |||
| Total after GST | $4,448.29 |
|---|
| Balance Course Fee | $2,616.00 | |||
| Total Before GST | $2,616.00 | |||
| Total after GST | $2,851.44 |
|---|
We do not accept Cash over the counter. You may however do a bank transfer or bank deposit and forward the proof of your deposit to us at courses@acc.edu.sg. Please call us at 6339 5411 for the bank details.
Payment Option 1:
Payment by Cheque, Nets or Credit Card.
Payment Option 2:
0% interest free instalment plan with selected merchant banks