Certificate in Counselling skills: 60 credits at Level 1 (NQF level 4)or Post-graduate Certificate in Continuing Professional Development: 60 credits at Level 4 (NQF level 7)
These one year part-time Certificate courses provides students with an opportunity to acquire both the practical experience and the theoretical understanding required to use person-centred counselling skills with confidence and competence. The courses are offered at undergraduate level for those who have no previous experience of Higher Education and at post-graduate level for those who already hold a Higher Education qualification.
“The initial Certificate courses at UEA have often proved to be life-changing events for participants. For many, too, they have been the vital first stage in a process which has led ultimately to qualification as a professional counsellor. I am proud to have been associated with these courses since their inception.”
Brian Thorne
Emeritus Professor of Counselling at the University of East Anglia, Professor of Education in the College of Teachers and best-selling author of 'Person Centred Counselling in Action' and 'Carl Rogers', both recommended texts for students on our person centred courses.
Course Content
Course members meet weekly; there are also a number of full-day weekend workshops and a residential weekend. Sessions will include structured and unstructured group work; skills practice; the use of audio recording with peer group and tutor feedback; role play; written analysis and reflection. Through the experience of working within a facilitated group and by keeping a reflective learning journal, we can create a safe environment making possible self disclosure, constructive feedback and a high level of interpersonal and intra-personal learning.
Students on the post-graduate pathway will be required to engage in greater depth with the course content. They will be expected to critically evaluate current research and new developments in the person centred approach and to engage in research into their own use of counselling skills and the wider application of the approach.
There are three main areas of emphasis, which are interrelated throughout the course so that sessions will contain elements of each:
1. Theory and Professional Issues
- An introduction to the work of Carl Rogers and the Person-Centred approach
- Person-Centred Personality Theory
- The therapeutic conditions of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard
- Professional issues of confidentiality and ethics for practitioners of counselling skills
- Specialist topics such as bereavement may be discussed and there will be many opportunities for understanding the development and application of counselling skills
2. Counselling Skills
- Developing the ability to offer the core conditions of empathic understanding, unconditional acceptance and congruence within a helping relationship
- Building confidence in responding to a wide variety of people in different situations
- Extending students’ ability to relate to others in depth
3. Personal Development
- Developing an understanding of our own thoughts, feelings and behavioural
- Developing our own self-awareness including awareness of personal prejudices, boundaries and limitations
- Developing an understanding of the way behavioural is perceived and understood
- Identifying and enhancing inter-personal styles of communication and relating
- Experiencing the process of establishing, developing and maintaining relationships with others including fellow students and those we listen to in our work roles
Click here for the latest Postgraduate Certificate course handbook [PDF, 341KB]
Click here for the latest Undergraduate Certificate course handbook [PDF, 343 KB]
Coursework and Assessment
All three areas will be assessed throughout the course using a variety of written and practical assignments and will involve self, peer and tutor assessment.
Entry requirements
Prospective students will need to demonstrate the following in their application and personal statements:
- Satisfactory completion of UEA Introduction to Person Centred Theory and Practice or suitable alternative course*
(Please contact admissions at edu.cce.admiss@uea.ac.uk or on 01603 593252 for details of suitable alternative courses)
- Some experience of a helping role in which counselling skills are used
- That you have opportunities to use your developing counselling skills during the course (for example, in a voluntary placement or professional role)
- That you have sufficient time for private study; students should expect to spend at least 8 hours a week for the January-July Certificate and 6 hours a week for the November-July Certificate courses. This study time will include guided reading, keeping a reflective learning journal, using counselling skills in work or voluntary work and completing coursework assignments.
Following an application for this course a tutor may contact you to discuss your application.
Course Fees for 2011/2
Undergraduate certificate: For UK/EU students, £1688; for International students, £5500.
Postgraduate certificate: For UK/EU students, £1500; for International students, £3735
ADDITIONAL FEE: The course fee does not include the cost of the residential weekend (approx £150. Please note, this must be paid in advance and may not be returnable if you withdraw from the course).
If you are not sure whether you are a UK/EU student or an International student, please email edu.cce.admiss@uea.ac.uk. We will send you a Fee Status form to complete.
Fees can be paid in instalments by arrangement with our Finance office. You should contact them after you have been invoiced, usually just after the start of the course.
Course dates for 2011/2
For BOTH undergraduate and postgraduate students, you have a choice of three courses (please note, dates are subject to change):
18th November 2011 to 13th July 2012 - Course tutors: Jane Nicholls and Lucy Machin
Fridays – 9.15am – 1pm (one weekend session, Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm)
Sessions will take place on the following days:
Term 1: November 18, 25; December 2, 9, 16.
Term 2: January 6, 13, 20, 27; February 3; March 2, 9, 16, 23.
Term 3: April 20, 27; May 4, 12, 13, 18, 25; June 15, 22, 29; July 6, 13.
Residential weekend: Friday 24th February 5pm to Sunday 26th February 4pm
3rd December 2011 to 31st July 2012 - Course tutors: Hannah Gardner and Kathleen Madigan
Saturdays (and one Sunday) – 10am – 4pm
Sessions will take place on the following days:
Term 1: December 3, 10, 17.
Term 2: January 7, 21; February 4, 11; March 3, 24, 31.
Term 3: April 21, 28; May 19, 20, 26; June 16, 30; July 14.
Plus two further dates to be confirmed.
Residential weekend: Friday 16th March, 5pm to Sunday 18th March 4pm
5th January 2012 to 19th July 2012 - Course tutors - Hannah Gardner and Kathleen Madigan
Thursdays – 6.30pm – 9.30pm (with some Saturday and Sunday sessions, 10am - 4pm, marked with a *)
Sessions will take place on the following days:
Term 1: January 5, 12, 19, 21*, 26; February 2, 9, 11*, 16, 23; March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.
Term 2: April 19, 26; May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; June 14, 21, 23*, 24*, 28; July 5, 12, 19.
Residential weekend: Friday 24th February 5pm to Sunday 26th February 4pm
Which certificate course shall I apply for?
If you have a Higher Education qualification, or any qualification at NQF level 4 or above (e.g. NVQ level 4, Foundation degree, DipHE, Bachelor degree, etc.), you should apply for the postgraduate certificate. If not, you should apply for the undergraduate certificate. Whilst both certificates receive the same teaching time and content, assessment is slightly different (see above, 'Course content').
Applications
Applications are now closed for 2011/12.
To register your interest for autumn 2012 entry to the course, or for any other questions, please email the admissions team at edu.cce.admiss@uea.ac.uk or telephone (01603) 593252.
Last updated: 5th January 2012
