Professional Diploma in Counseling & Psychotherapy

Counseling Psychology

Counseling Psychology is a specialty in applied psychology that uses a broad range of techniques to help people improve their well-being, prevent and alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to function better in their lives. Counseling psychologists support personal and interpersonal functioning across the life span and pays particular attention to emotional, social, vocational, educational, health-related, developmental, and organizational concerns.

Professional Diploma in Counseling Psychology

Professional Diploma in Counseling Psychology is a postgraduate level (UK Level 7) program designed to train individuals to become effective and confident practitioners of psycho-therapeutic counseling.

This is deal for ones who have already completed a Bachelor’s or Higher Diploma level education in psychology, therefore have gathered core psychology knowledge and now are planning to gain a professional qualification is counseling with a supervised training.

During the program students will be introduced to key theoretical frameworks of different psychotherapeutic approaches providing them an opportunity to gain knowledge required to understand multiple causes, risk factor, assessment methods and intervention planning for low intensity psychological conditions. Supervised training will provide them with skills, technical knowledge and confidence needed become an independent practitioner.

Aims & Objectives

Upon successful completion students will be able to :

1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills required to understand the causes and risk factors of low intensity psychological conditions

2. Use psychotherapeutic techniques effectively to plan and carry out interventions for life issues, behavioral problems and psychological conditions

3. Work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams in adherence to ethical and professional standards

4. Support others while understanding the strengths and limitations of ones skills and without harming their own well-being

Program Structure

Duration                              01 Year

Delivery                               On Campus

Modules                              08

Compulsory                        08

Credit Value                       120 UK Credits

Level                                   07 (RQF Standard)

Classes                               weekends

Awarding Body                 Colombo Institute of Research & Psychology

Accreditation                     Tretiary & Vocational Education Commission of Sri Lanka Sri Lanka

Credit Transfer                  Available

Transfer abroad                 Available

Progression                        Master’s degrees in Psychology/ Counseling Psychology

Program Delivery

Program is delivered using modern teaching methods and training techniques that inspires the minds of the students creating enthusiasm, interest and motivation to explore further in to the field. A variety of methods from face to face lectures to case studies, journal discussions, workshops and seminars, small group discussions and group activities are used to create and maintain passion of the students.

Module Structure

Core Modules

1. Introduction to Abnormal & Clinical Psychology                                                                                                            

2. Defining & Classifying Mental Illness

3. Theories & Models of Psychopathology                           

4. Counseling Theories & Techniques                     

5. Counseling in Different Contexts                        

6. Post trauma Counseling                                          

7. Introduction to Low Intensity Psychotherapy

8. Supervised Training   

Placement & Supervised Training

Students who wish to improve their practitioner skills by obtaining additional supervised training and/or placement may benefit from the supervised training programs provided by CIRP life center, CIRP’s own psychotherapy and counseling center.

Assessments

Assessments are designed to ensure that the students have achieved the required learning outcomes. Students are provided opportunity to take a range of assessments that will empower students to face the various different challenges and demands of their work life upon graduation including written examinations, essays and assignments submitted online, individual and group presentations, social media projects, mini research projects.

Entry Criteria  

Standard Entry

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher Diploma in Psychology, Nursing, Medicine, Social Work or any other related field

If you are not eligible under the standard entry, you may be eligible under the work related entry

Work related Entry

Individuals currently working in related fields may enter the programs if they meet any of the following criteria

Basic Qualification in Core Psychology  + Minimum One Year Experience in counseling, mental health or a related field

Language Requirement

A high level of English Proficiency  is required to successfully complete this program.

English Proficiency of the students will be assessed in the beginning of the programs and students who do not meet the expected standard will be asked to follow the English Language Proficiency Program (ELPP) offered by CIRP and obtain the required level of mastery before commencing their studies.

Academic Progression in Sri Lanka

If you already have a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, upon successful completion of this Diploma, you are eligible to apply for the following Postgraduate programs

                MSc in Clinical & Counseling Psychology

                MSc Applied Psychology – Child & Adolescent Practice

                MSc Applied Psychology – Counseling Psychology

International Credit Transfer

Upon successful completion of this Diploma, students are eligible to apply for exemptions for the similar modules in related programs through credit transferring.

We could recommend you the universities that we already have a partnership with or if you have a preferred country and/or a University we could support you to transfer the credits by working with the university

Employability – Local & Foreign

Our Qualifications are registered with the Tertiary and Vocational Qualification Authority of Sri Lanka, therefore your qualification is recognized by the Government of Sri Lanka as a vocational qualification. If you plan to apply for foreign employment, You are eligible to get your certificate endorsed by the Government of Sri Lanka as a recognized qualification. 

Award & Certificate

Diploma level qualifications awarded by CIRP and is recognized by TVEC Sri Lanka. Certificate is issued by CIRP and you are able to get the certificate attested by TVEC Sri Lanka as a registered qualification when you apply for foreign universities.

Student Life

CIRP offers and excellent campus life that provides students ample opportunities to enjoy their university life combining academic work with a range of other activities. Most are aimed at providing students the much required recreational time and sufficient time away from classrooms essential for psychological well-being. Working together with the students council, CIRP organizes many activities and events to bring our hidden talents in students, provide confidence, enhance social and interpersonal skills, embrace cultural diversity and have fun in a responsible  way in a safe environment. 

We invite all students to check out student life at CIRP.