Blended Learning Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy
LEVEL
Certificate
AWARD
PCI College Certificate of Attendance
COURSE STATUS
Open for Applications
DURATION
12
month(s)
Part-Time
DELIVERY
Online
COMMENCEMENT DATE
LOCATIONS
Online
This Blended Learning Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy is a combination of the Online Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy (Part 1 of the course) and two ONLINE experiential weekend workshops (Part 2 of the course).
You can either sign up to the Full Blended Learning Certificate (Parts 1 & 2 combined) from the start and avail of discounted fees or upgrade by applying for Part 2 after completing the Online Introduction component (Part 1). The Online Introduction can also be completed as a standalone course. This course is suitable for Personal and Professional Development, or as a stepping stone for those who intend to pursue a career in the field of counselling and psychotherapy. It is also ideal for those who might benefit from using counselling skills in their current employment. The PCI College Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy meets one of the entry requirements of our professional BSc Honours Degree Programme.
Who is this course for?
This course is for those who wish to learn more about both the inner workings of counselling and psychotherapy and themselves as individuals. It will also appeal to those who intend to pursue a career in the field and become an IACP accredited professional or who wish to incorporate counselling knowledge and skills into their current personal/ professional lives.
What are the benefits of doing this course?
The course aims to be both intellectually stimulating and useful. The skills and knowledge acquired may be effectively applied to any number of ‘real life’ situations and professions. These skills may include increased self-awareness and empathy, improved communication and listening abilities, and a range of counselling tools that can enhance interpersonal relationships. Students wishing to pursue a career in the field will also be provided with the essential foundational elements needed as part of enrolment for a further qualification, such as our BSc Honours Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
What will you learn?
You can expect to learn more about yourself and your inner processes, and how this may inform your everyday life. This is fostered by the lecturer’s creation of a safe, supportive learning environment that encourages and respects your unique journey. You will be introduced to some of the key forefathers and mothers of psychotherapy and will learn some of the essential ‘baseline’ skills of the counselling relationship. You will also have the chance to practice these in a live setting via small group work with your colleagues. Lecturers will be on hand to provide guidance and feedback. As the course comes to an end, time will be given for students to reflect on their individual experiences and consider the group’s achievements together.
Part 1
Online Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy is made up of 4 modules:
• Personal Development
• Overview of Theories & Approaches
• Humanistic & Cognitive Behavioural Therapies
• Counselling Skills
Online Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy (Part 1)
The Online Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy is a great way to develop an understanding and appreciation of counselling and will appeal to those who are looking to discover the different theories and approaches to counselling & psychotherapy, to explore their own personal development and to develop basic counselling skills. This online counselling course is ideal for people who cannot commit to a classroom setting or who would like the flexibility of online study.
The course material is delivered online, through the PCI College Student Portal, and students are fully supported by the Course Tutor, with introductory videos, written course notes and feedback through email. This is an interactive course and materials are delivered through a combination of written exercises, personal reflections, case studies, and video demonstrations. You will also have access to a comprehensive online library for further reading.
When you complete the Online Introduction, you can choose to continue to the full Blended Learning Certificate course (or you can opt for the Blended Learning course from the beginning and save on course fees – see below for more details).
Students who exit the course following the Online Introduction will receive a certificate of completion but please note that the Online Introduction course alone does not satisfy the criteria to progress to the BSc, so a student enrolled on this course who wishes to pursue the degree option will need to upgrade to the Blended Learning Certificate and attend the online weekend workshops.
Part 2
Blended Upgrade is made up of 2 modules:
• Personal Development & Theories
• Counselling Skills & Integration
Blended Learning Upgrade (Part 2)
Part 2 of the course involves students who have completed the Online Introduction component (Part 1) of the course attending two-weekend workshops online. During the online weekend workshops, interpersonal communication, personal development issues and the application of theory to practice are all well explored. The online weekend workshops are facilitated by the same tutor who has overseen your progress on the Online Introduction portion of the course. This programme is different from many home study counselling courses which do not include the essential, practical application of theory to practice.
Timetable
Spring 2025 Workshops – Delivered Online
Weekend 1: April 20th & 21st, 2025
Weekend 2: May 4th & 5th, 2025
Eligibility
No prior knowledge of counselling & psychotherapy is required for this home study counselling course.
Applicants should feel that they possess a maturity to reflect on their own development as a person.
Language Requirements
All candidates are required to satisfy the English language requirement. Candidates whose first language is not English and who are presenting qualifications other than the Leaving Certificate may satisfy the requirement through the completion of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) on the basis that they obtain a minimum band score of 6 at the undergraduate level and 6.5 at postgraduate level or an equivalent score of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or Cambridge, which denotes a very good skill level of English. It should be noted that these are the minimum requirements in English and PCI College may set higher requirements in each case.
IT Skills
System Requirements:
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- Operating System
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- Windows 7 or Windows 8
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- Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and above
Hardware:
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- 1 GHZ or faster x86 or 64-bit processor with SSE2 instruction set
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- 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64- bit) recommended for graphics features Minimum of 3 gigabytes (GB) disk space
Browser
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- Windows Internet Explorer 8, 9, or 10
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- Mozilla Firefox 10 or later
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- Apple Safari 5 or later
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- Google Chrome 17 or later
Fees
Online Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy: €715
Upgrade to the Blended Learning Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy: €425
Blended Learning Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy: €1060 (Reduces the cost of the course by €80)
This fee includes course material delivered online for home study, ongoing tutor support and two online weekend workshops where students explore personal development, interpersonal communication and the application of counselling theory to practice.
Course Fees – Northern Ireland
Course Total
Career Path
Counselling is a fulfilling career and can change your life as well as the lives of others. People who become counsellors are genuinely interested in human behaviour and have a strong desire to help others improve their mental well-being. They are also skilled at interacting with people on a personal level while maintaining a professional relationship.
Upon completion of the Certificate Course, students will be invited to apply to our Middlesex University BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy (Level 6 FHEQ – comparable to Level 8 NFQ). The PCI College BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy is fully accredited by the IACP in all PCI College venues. You can see more information here about professional accreditation.
Today more than ever there is a massive need for trained counsellors and psychotherapists in Ireland. Indeed there is increased acknowledgement of the growing need for Counsellors within the HSE, Community Primary Care Groups, Schools and the Private Sector. Our BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy ensures that you have equipped yourself with the necessary qualification and training to be recognised and effective. Once you have completed your professional training, there are many routes open to you; you may wish to set up a Private Practice, join an agency or work for an organisation such as the HSE, a School, a Charity or a State-Body.