Course Content

Teaching and Learning
The Diploma programme uses a variety of teaching methods including formal lectures and tutorials, one to one tutor contact, structured and independent learning with peer/tutor support and individual study. There will be a combination of didactic and participative learning. There is a strong emphasis on experiential learning to develop skills. Students will be encouraged to reflect upon their own experience and to share this within seminars and discussion groups.
SMC values student feedback and evaluation. There are regular opportunities for students to feedback ideas. SMC incorporates these comments, whenever practicable and appropriate, within the programme structure and philosophy.

Module 1: Relationship Counselling Theory
This module begins with 6 residential weekends from December 2010 to June 2011.
The aim of this first module is to provide students with knowledge and understanding of relationship development and relationship counselling theory. This module links theory to practice when dealing with specific counselling issues.
Students are given the opportunity to explore a range of approaches to relationship counselling. They are encouraged to implement and evaluate their own developing integrative counselling approach.

Module 2: Relationship Counselling Process and Skills
The aim of the module is to equip students with the skills and process knowledge required to work effectively with clients in relationship counselling interactions. The module is designed to provide students with a secure foundation of basic relationship counselling competence. Learning undertaken is experiential. Students work in small training groups to practice and receive feedback on their counselling skills and management of the counselling process.

Module 3: Relationship Counselling Practice
The aim of this final module is for students to consolidate and extend their skills and knowledge developed during the first 2 modules. Learning is transferred into practice-based counselling within an SMC Centre.

Students’ counselling practice is constantly supported and evaluated through their Supervised Counselling Practice File and through individual and group supervision. Students are expected to reflect upon and evaluate their development as counsellors. There is a clear focus on working ethically in accordance with professional ethical frameworks. The module also provides an opportunity to extend and develop understanding of how to work safely with clients who present specific and complex difficulties e.g. domestic violence and abuse.