Psychology & Counselling Courses

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Graduate Diploma of Counselling

In-depth Specialist Course in Counselling

Gain an awareness of social, legal and ethical issues necessary to develop your counselling skills. Upon completion, you'll be able to apply counselling skills and strategies in a variety of settings.

This postgraduate diploma is ideal for those who already have an undergraduate degree and are seeking a qualification to work in the field of counselling.

The course includes 200 hours of supervised work placement, where you can put theory into practice and gain valuable work experience.

Delivered by the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP), this course focuses on experiential learning, so you emerge job ready with skills you can apply immediately.

Quick Course Guide

Qualification: Graduate Diploma
Delivered by: ACAP

Study time: 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent. Enquire now for more details on study time and enrolment dates.
Student support: Comprehensive support

Delivery method: Flexible - on campus and/or online
Pre-requisites: Undergraduate degree or equivalent

Student placement: 200 hours
Finance options: FEE-HELP available

Graduate Diploma of Counselling Course Structure

There are 16 modules in this counselling course:

Counselling Skills 1
Conflict Management
Developmental Psychology
Counselling Skills 2
Social, Legal and Ethical Issues
Counselling in Loss
Student Placement 1 (Work Experience)
Counselling Methods 1
Elective 1

Theory and Practice of Supervision
Counselling Methods 2
Mental Health Issues
Elective 2
Student Placement 2 (Clinical)
Professional Development and Reflective Practice
Integrative Project

Upon completion, you will be eligible for advanced standing in ACAP's Master of Applied Social Science course. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant for more information.

Be Job Ready

Classes for this counselling course are small and interactive, and focus on hands-on learning. The curriculum is developed and updated in consultation with industry, so you are work ready upon completion and able to apply your skills immediately.

Flexible Learning Methods

To help fit your study around your lifestyle, work and family commitments, we provide a choice of learning methods as specified below. No matter which method you choose, your learning will be supported by a set of comprehensive materials which can be downloaded free or purchased in hard copy.

On campus in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane
Interactive and lively classes; maximum of 20 students per class
Online
Log on and learn from anywhere in the world; all you need is regular computer and Internet access
Summer School
Intensive study option for busy students or those who want to complete their studies sooner

Flexible & Affordable Study

Flexibility and support were the reasons I chose ACAP. Choice of class times means I can continue to work full-time and the government loan scheme helps pay my fees.

Malcolm Breen

You can select a different study method for each module you enrol in. If you choose to study your full qualification online, you will still need to attend three separate weeks of face-to-face counsellor development workshops on campus in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. These workshops are also compulsory for those who study on campus and complete less than three counselling modules.

Contact a SEEK Learning consultant for more information about the different study methods available and enrolment dates.

Practical Assessments, Not Exams

There are no exams for this counselling course. As ACAP values experiential learning, the College uses assessments to determine if learning outcomes have been achieved.

ACAP's assessments combine both theory and practice, and can take the form of interviews, videotaped role-plays, self-critiques, essays, journals, projects and presentations. Most modules contain 3 assessments.

Study Now, Pay as You Earn

Almost every Australian citizen is eligible for Government assistance through the FEE-HELP program. This means you do not have to pay anything upfront, but can pay for your course as you earn. Contact a SEEK Learning consultant to find out more about how you can study now and pay as you earn with FEE-HELP.

This course is also Austudy and Abstudy-accredited.

Exceptional Student Support

A wide range of student support is available:

Academic guidance: get professional assistance to help you understand and prepare for assessments - especially useful for those who have not studied for many years or are unfamiliar with academic requirements to satisfy tertiary standards
Student resources: access academic and administrative information through a web-based resource centre
Student support counsellors: receive professional career guidance and counselling from qualified experts

In addition, those studying online have access to a dedicated support person by phone or email.

About ACAP

ACAP is a leading Higher Education Provider (HEP) in applied psychology and a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). ACAP educators are highly experienced practitioners with current industry knowledge.

A key component of ACAP's applied psychology and counselling courses is student placement, which involves you securing work placement within an organisation of your choice. ACAP will help you organise this and support you throughout your placement.

Many ACAP students are offered paid employment as a direct result of their work placements.

Find out more about ACAP.