Certificate course

ONE-YEAR TRAINING COURSE
IN SYSTEMIC COUNSELLING

AIMS

• To produce counsellors who are knowledgeable, competent and gender sensitive in applying systemic counselling techniques.

• To promote and support the family as a fundamental unit of society (including the needs of children) within the context of economic and other limitations.

OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING PROGRAMME

To train counsellors who

• understand the systemic approach to counselling,

• use this approach in dealing with clients' problems,

• are competent in dealing with clients' problems in a gender sensitive manner,

• refer those clients they cannot help to other agencies/organisations that can help them,

• act as advocates for the families and children.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Recruitment:

• Candidates should be 25 years of age.

• They should have an 'O' level qualification.

• They need experience in working with people.

PRE-COURSE ASSIGNMENT

• Identify one of the problems you encountered in your life. How did you manage/solve it?

• Looking back do you think that was an effective way of handling it?

Length 500 to 750 words; due date is the first day of our first In-Class Session.

FIRST IN-CLASS  SESSION  

DURATION: 1 week

At commencement of the in-class session we provide each student with a manual,
that contains all the content of the course.

Course content:

• System Theory

• Family Life Cycle and power issues in the family

• The Systemic Counselling approach-genograms

• Culture issues

• Basic systemic counselling techniques

• Steps in the counselling process

• Qualities of effective counselling

• Children and adolescents in counselling 

• Impact of HIV/AIDS, socio economic issues,

• HIV statistics and ethical issues

• Introduction to research project

FIRST  SESSIONAL INTERVAL

DURATION :  4 - 5 months

• Practise counselling techniques learnt during the residential session.

• Conduct counselling sessions and tape 3 of them.

• Discuss at least one of the audio tapes with a supervisor.

• Write counselling reports on all the taped sessions.

SECOND IN-CLASS  SESSION

DURATION: 1 week

Looking at the following counselling issues from a gender perspective:

• Special problems encountered during counselling sessions by participants

• Crisis counselling

• Domestic violence

• Bereavement

• Women and child abuse

• Alcohol and substance abuse

• Suicide

• Dyadic conflict counselling

• Stress: Definition, signs, symptoms and management

• Referral agencies

SECOND SESSIONAL INTERVAL

DURATION: 4 - 5  months

• Practise counselling techniques

• Conduct counselling sessions. Record 3 audio tapes

• Write counselling reports on all taped sessions

• Discuss at least one audio tape with a supervisor

RESEARCH  STUDY:

NB: This should be submitted before sitting for examinations.

THIRD IN-CLASS SESSION

DURATION:  5 days

METHODOLOGY

• Overall participatory,

• Lectures

• Role-plays,

• Video-presentations

COST PER PARTICIPANT

Will be advised in an interview after application for the course

ATTENDANCE

A record of 100% attendance mandatory for each participant

All course components must be completed as required

ASSESSMENT

Each student

• will conduct and record on audio tape 6 counselling sessions with clients during the course of the programme and send these to the centre with a written report,

• will discuss at least two of these tapes with a supervisor,

• will write a 2 hour final examination,

• will  take 1 hour practical examination,

• will submit a basic research report.

A certificate in Systemic Counselling will be awarded on completion of all course requirements.

Last update:  09.03.2008