DURATION: Part 1 must be completed within 12 months of the start date; Part 2 must be completed during the Spring.

AWARD: PCI College Blended Learning Certificate In Counselling & Psychotherapy

TIMETABLE SPRING SCHOOL: 

Spring 2024 Workshops - Delivered Online

Weekend 1: April 20th & 21st 

Weekend 2: May 4th & 5th

You can book this course online, using the booking form above, or you can download the application form in the Download section, and send it to us by email.

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. 

Start Date & Duration: You can begin the Online Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy at any time. The online course must be completed within 12 months of the start date. A timeline chart is available to download here which shows the breakdown of course modules and the key milestones as you progress. 

Please Note: the start date given on the Booking Form is a system-generated to date - you can start this course at any time and will be emailed your access to the course material 3-5 days after you enrol.

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.

Start Date & Duration: Students enrolled on the full Blended Learning Certificate or students that upgrade to this course from the Online Introduction are eligible to join the next available round of online weekend workshops upon successful completion of Online Introduction Part 1. A timeline chart is available to download, which shows the breakdown of course modules and the key milestones as you progress.

The 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

The Part 2 Blended Upgrade is made up of 2 modules:

• Personal Development & Theories
• Counselling Skills & Integration

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. 

IT SKILLS

System Requirements:

• Operating System
• Windows 7 or Windows 8 
• Mac OS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and above

Hardware:

• 1 GHZ or faster x86 or 64-bit processor with SSE2 instruction set 
• 1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64- bit) recommended for graphics features Minimum of 3 gigabytes (GB) disk space

Browser

• Windows Internet Explorer 8, 9, or 10 
• Mozilla Firefox 10 or later 
• Apple Safari 5 or later 
• Google Chrome 17 or later  

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.

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.

FEES

Online Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy: €715 

Upgrade to the Blended Learning Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy: €425

Blended Learning Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy: €1060 (A Saving of €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.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants should complete the online application form including the Tuition fee. Applicants are entitled to a full refund of the Course Fees if they decide to cancel within 14 days of receipt of their application/booking and if they didn't start the course or downloaded the material. Fees are non-refundable in all personal circumstances. All courses run subject to demand and the formation of a viable class cohort. A full refund will be given to all applicants in the event that the class does not proceed. Please note that the name used on your application needs to be the same name that you have on your passport.

For more information, please visit our Terms & Conditions page.

When does the course start and finish? How long does it take?

You can start the Blended Learning Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy at any time. When you enrol for the course, you will receive Log-In details for the PCI College Student Portal where you will have 24-hour access to the Certificate programme material. Please note it may take 3-5 working days for your Portal access to be set up, following Registration.

There are 4 modules in the Certificate and you study each of these online at your own pace, at a time that suits you. A guideline for completion of each module is 4-6 weeks, however, you can complete the programme faster or slower, depending on your own commitments, your pace of study and the scheduled weekends.

When are the weekend workshops?
The weekend workshops take place online during the Spring months. They occur once each year, over two separate weekends, and are facilitated by the same tutor that oversees the Online Introduction. Students are required to attend on a Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 to 18:00. The weekend workshops will go ahead on the scheduled dates, subject to a sufficient number of registered students. It is necessary to have a minimum number of students for the workshops to ensure an effective, fulfilling experiential learning experience.

How does the Blended Learning Certificate course work? How do I get the course material?
On registration, students are provided with login details and a Course Handbook which will guide them through the online counselling course material on the Student Portal.

Course material includes:
• written exercises and reflections
• practical video examples
• case studies
• further suggested reading.

Students cover the course modules at their own pace and complete exercises as they progress through each module, recording each in a separate workbook. Students enrolled on the full Blended Learning Certificate must have submitted all module workbooks and assignments by a particular date during the academic year in order to qualify for attendance at the workshops.

Can I complete the Blended Learning Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy course without attending the workshops?
No. The workshops are a requirement for completion of the Certificate. The practical skills and personal development covered in the workshops are an essential part of the Certificate in Counselling & Psychotherapy and students find them a fulfilling and enjoyable part of the programme.

If you are not in a position to attend these workshops, you can register for just the Online Introduction to Counselling & Psychotherapy, where all material is delivered online.

How is the course assessed?
The assessment for the Online Introduction and Blended Learning Certificate involves the completion of four module workbooks and two formal assignments (Personal Growth Reflection and Book Review).

What is the difference between the Blended Learning Certificate course and the classroom-based Certificate?
Both versions of the Certificate course are 100 hours in length. The overall content is the same but some areas have been tailored for the online learner experience. The Blended Learning Certificate allows students who are not in a position to attend regular classes at one of our nationwide venues to study counselling and psychotherapy online, at an introductory level. Students who need this flexibility can, therefore, complete the Certificate at their own pace, attending two experiential weekend workshops to complete the practical aspects of the Certificate course.

Can I automatically do the Degree programme after completing the Blended Learning Certificate course?
Upon completion of the Blended Learning Certificate, students will be invited to interview for our Middlesex University BSc (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy (Level 8) which is accredited by the IACP. Entry is by application and interview.

Can I go straight into the Degree programme without doing the Blended Learning Certificate?
The Certificate Course or Equivalent (see below) is a prerequisite for our BSc (Hons) Degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy

Equivalent:
• Work/Volunteer training with a substantial counselling element.*
• Level 7+ course in Psychology, Social Care/Social Work, Psychiatric Nursing or Equivalent.*

*Entry onto the BSc (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy may require catch-up work to be completed. This is based on an assessment of your prior learning, which will be discussed at Interview.

Moreover, for those considering a career in counselling, a Certificate Course is an essential stepping stone to prepare for a professional qualification. It will help you develop an understanding and appreciation of counselling and psychotherapy and will help you decide whether it is the right career choice for you.

Can I do the Online Introduction/Blended Learning Certificate as a standalone course?
Of course! These are enjoyable and challenging courses developed for those who want to enrich their own personal development as well as for those planning to pursue a career in counselling & psychotherapy.

Is the BSc degree programme available online if I want to continue my studies after the Certificate?
No. The BSc (Hons) degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy is available as a classroom-based programme only, at several locations around the country. The teaching approach and modules for the BSc degree include a considerable amount of experiential learning and practical counselling skills which are essential to the training and qualifications for professional counsellors/psychotherapists. Therefore, it is not possible to provide the degree programme online.

I am on Social Welfare. Is there any funding available?
As we are a private college, there is no specific funding available. However, people do receive funding due to their own personal circumstances. We suggest that you contact your local Citizens Information Office for more information on funding that may be available to you.

What job opportunities are there for counsellors/psychotherapists?
The field of counselling & psychotherapy is very broad. Some graduates are working part-time in private practice, some are working full time for example with the HSE, in schools or addiction centres or charities etc., and some have pursued their own area of interest by providing a new service in their community. From surveys of graduates, most are working at least part-time in counselling & psychotherapy but some are simply continuing with their original career e.g. teachers, Garda Síochána etc.

What’s the deadline for Blended Learning Certificate course applications?
There is no deadline for applications; you can apply for and begin this course at any time.

If I want to apply for the BSc in Counselling & Psychotherapy in September, can I do the Blended Learning Certificate?
In order to achieve the Blended Learning Certificate, you must complete all online workbooks/assignments and attend the two online weekend workshops in June and July. In order to be eligible to attend these workshops, you must have completed all online elements by the end of May. If a student is determined to start the BSc in September, then we recommend that they commence the online portion of the Blended Learning course no later than March of the same year, to allow them enough time to truly engage with the materials and get the most of their course.