Specialist Diploma in Relationship and Marital Counselling
The Specialist Diploma in Relationship and Marital Counselling aims to provide a basic level of knowledge about major approaches to counselling and psychotherapy. Participants will be introduced to a foundation level of knowledge and skills in working with different client groups and specific client issues. The different types of couple therapies available will also provide basic training for aspiring relationship and marital counsellors.
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Testimonials
“The lecturer is a wonderful teacher. He’s so experienced and so in-tune with the art of counselling. You can tell from his teaching style that is a great counsellor – he’s very authentic and warm and I’m very impressed with his ability to always help us learn by reflecting versus telling us “the answers”. I’m sure he is a great counsellor and am very honoured to have been taught by him.” – J. Tang, 2021
“He is very knowledgeable and hardworking. Give us more of his experience” – C, 2021
“The lecturer was so positive and caring and it was a joy to attend to his classes. He took care of ensuring that all are in a safe psychological environment to come share our stories, experiences, issues and concerns. He took extra care to annotate the slides that he felt needed revisions and added his experiences as an expert. His specialist knowledge as a infidelity therapist was so evident when he handled the practical questions. His extra care to add some practical case based scenarios for hands on experiences helped us apply the knowledge and concepts well. We all had a great bond as close group of class with great support from him that it was so hard to leave the session on the last class 😉 Best wishes for him on his noble journey of helping couples in distress and helping them cope.. a great asset to the ACC team of therapists” – A. Balakrishnan, 2021
Programme Overview
- Interested 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, educational, customer service, human resource and supervisory work settings.
- Interested people with aspiration of becoming relationship and marital counsellor.
- Professionals who wish to improve their skills and working with couples and helping them with their issues.
- Couples who want to have more awareness on themselves and learn how to handle their own relationships.
- A professional basic entry qualification to counselling
- Opportunities for personal growth
- Acquisition of crucial interpersonal skills and related knowledge.
- An entry level qualifications in relationship and marital counselling
- A knowledge on nature and issues on relationship and marriage as well as different techniques on counselling couples
- Integrate the 3 areas salient to counsellor training programmes:
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- Personal growth
- Theoretical and research-based knowledge in counselling psychology
- Skills in counselling
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- 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
Programme Structure
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.
The lecturer-student ratio is set at 1:25 to ensure optimum teaching, learning and sharing between the lecturer and students.
There are a total of 4 modules with assignments. Each module consists of 12 sessions.
Number of Modules: 4 modules, each with assignments
Contact Hours: 144 hours
Total Duration: 6 months
Each classroom session is 3 hours, held twice to thrice a week.
- Ms Goh Chiou Yun, Carol
- Mr Tan Choon Hooi, Klein
- Ms Karen Sciberras
- Mdm Tan Lay Geok
Click here to view the lecturers’ profile
Student must achieve at least 75% attendance for all modules and a minimum passing mark of 50 for all assignments to be awarded the Specialist Diploma in Relationship and Marital Counselling.
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
- 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
- Understanding Relationships, Divorce, Remarriage, Separation
- Family of Origin
- Communication Skills and Conflict Resolution
- Premarital Relationship and Counselling
- Solution and Problem Focused Therapy
- Emotion Focused Therapy
- Integrative Behavioural Couple Therapy
- Imago Therapy
- Couple Issues: Domestic Violence, Infidelity and Intimacy
- Couple Issues: Addictions, Stresses in Marriage (Financial Issues, Work, Children, In-laws)
- Keeping the marriage alive, rekindling the burning flame
- Self and Couple Assessment
Fees and Charges
Fees are payable to: ACC Institute of Human Services Pte. Ltd.
Without Bursary
| Course Fee | $5,880.00* | |||
| Registration Fee | $60.00 | |||
| Module 1 Textbook | $57.00 | |||
| Total Before GST | $5,997.00 | |||
| Total after GST | $6,536.73 |
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With Bursary
| Course Fee* | $5,880.00 | |||
| Shepherd Bursary Award^ | -$800.00 | |||
| Module 1 Textbook | $57.00 | |||
| Registration Fee | $60.00 | |||
| Total Before GST | $5,197.00 | |||
| Total after GST | $5,664.73 |
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*Textbooks not included.
^Subject to approval of the Shepherd Bursary Award Application
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:
Lump sum payment by Cheque, Nets or Credit Card.
Payment Option 2:
0% interest free installment plan with selected merchant banks
Payment Option 3:
In-house installment plan where there is a $50 administrative fee for each installment payment after the initial payment. The installment plan only applies to the course fees.
For example, if you plan to opt for 3 installment payments for this with the bursary, the installment plan would be:
| First Payment (Before Course Start Date) | Course Fee ($1,693.33) + Registration Fee ($60.00) + Module 1 Textbook Fee ($57.00) | $1,810.33 (before GST) $1,937.05 (after GST) | ||
| Second Payment (2 Months after Course Start Date) | Course Fee ($1,693.33) + Installment Admin Fee ($50.00) | $1,743.33 (before GST) $1,865.36 (after GST) | ||
| Last Payment (4 Months after Course Start Date) | Course Fee ($1,693.33) + Installment Admin Fee ($50.00) | $1,743.33 (before GST) $1,865.36 (after GST) | ||
| Total Before GST | $5,296.99 | |||
| Total after GST | $5,720.75 |
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Thank you and we wish you good success!
Course Overview
Study Mode: Part-time only
Duration: 6 months
Modules: 4 modules, each with 12 lessons
Student Testimonials
“When the mind is happy, more learning takes place. Thank you for being an interactive lecturer.”
“The rooms are conducive for learning. The lighting, furnitures and AC were commendable. The attitude and welcoming smiles of the student team is very much appreciated.”
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