Train to Become a Qualified Counsellor
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I spent 7 hours last Saturday in a near-deserted section of La Trobe Street, at the Melbourne office of the
Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors (AIPC). I was doing an assessment workshop as part of a
Diploma of Professional Counselling course. And I loved it.
The course has 18 workbooks to complete at my own pace at home, plus 11 days of assessment workshops on La Trobe Street. I was not looking forward to the workshops encroaching on my precious weekend days. But you know what? I've found them energising and enjoyable, and met interesting people from all walks of life.
Some are doing the course in the hope of making a career change. Others are like me: doing it out of interest, to enrich my life and enhance my work skills.
Right from Book 1, you're straight into practical learning which is great. I've just finished Book 8, and so far the course has covered communication skills used in counselling, major theories of individual development and three different counselling approaches.
The three workshops I've been to so far have had between 8 and 15 participants. In the morning we've reviewed some theory from the workbooks, then had a practice mini-counselling session, taking turns to be the counsellor and to role play a client. After a lunch break, it's time for the assessment. Again, we each have a go as counsellor and as client, with our colleagues providing feedback and the tutor assessing us for a range of specific competencies. It's an informal, supportive environment, though still quite daunting when it's your turn. As we learn in the course, it's through moving outside our comfort zone that we learn and grow.
It isn't a cheap course by any means, but what accredited qualification is these days? You have some choices in how you pay though. You can pay as you go to spread out the cost, or get a big discount by paying up front. The total cost for me is a bit over $3000.
One hint: the first price I was quoted was way more that what I've ended up paying. I expect it's a marketing ploy to make you think you are getting a bargain, but I'm glad I didn't sign up too quickly.
#city
#learn_something
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194853 - 2023-06-16 04:04:27