Arts COURSES

BA (Hons) Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP recognised)

Overview

Awarding Body:	Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI) - formerly Higher Education & Training Awards Council (HETAC)
Award Level:	Level 8 (Honours Degree).
Course Length:	Part-time: 4 years (1-2 evenings per week and 9 weekends)
Title of Award:	Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Counselllng & Psychotherapy Information Evening
Wednesday 19th June - DBS, 13/14 Aungier Street, Dublin 2

Presentations at the following times:

Undergraduate Degree – 5pm

Postgraduate programmes – 6pm

Counsellors have a major contribution to make in the alleviation of distress and in the development of the individual across the whole range of human experience such as bereavement, trauma, depression, personal and career choices and relationships. In addition, good counselling skills are now an essential part of many work roles and an expertise in the areas can be an important source of job satisfaction. Counselling and Psychotherapy disciplines have enjoyed significant growth in an Ireland that has seen great social change in recent years. They have become accepted as ways of coming to understand oneself and help others. Please note that completion of a Foundation course in Counselling & Psychotherapy is not a pre-requisite for entry on to this programme.

Please note that completion of a Foundation course in Counselling & Psychotherapy is not a pre-requisite for entry on to this programme.

Key Features of this Programme

Central to the course are personal development through personal therapy and process group work, supervised clinical practice (years 3 & 4) and theoretical study
Teaching is primarily interactive and focused on the students' engagement with the material on the programme
Learning is skills-based and experiential, in small group formats (maximum of 15 per training group and 8 per clinical supervision group in years 3 & 4)
We have a dedicated placement officer to assist students in finding work placements to complete their necessary client work
Of interest to those who would like to learn counselling skills and understand their basis in psychotherapeutic practice
Enhances students current work practices e.g. health and social care professionals, teachers, Gardai, community workers, voluntary sector workers and many more
Recognised by the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (IACP)
The orientation is primarily humanistic /integrative/ psychodynamic but it also introduces students to the principles of psychoanalysis, body psychotherapy, existential psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
Upon successful completion, graduates may apply for the MA in Psychotherapy

Programme Content

Level 1	Year Long Modules The Stress Response I Theory & Practice I Approaches to Counselling & Psychotherapy Contemporary Issues I Process Group (30 weeks) Single Semester Modules Developmental Psychology Elective
Level 2	Year Long Modules The Stress Response II Theory & Practice II The Family System Contemporary Issues II Process Group (30 weeks) Single Semester Modules Human Sexuality Elective
Level 3	Year Long Modules Clinical Group Supervision I Theory & Practice III Existentialism & Psychotherapy Supervised Practice I Single Semester Modules Freud's Case Histories Psychopathology Approaches to Addiction Research Methodology
Level 4	Year Long Modules The Body in Psychotherapy Clinical Group Supervision II Theory & Practice IV Supervised Practice II Single Semester Modules Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Ethics Group Psychotherapy Research Project and Thesis

Learner protection for this programme is provided in accordance with Section 43 of the Qualifications (Education and Training ) Act 1999.

Structure

The BA (Hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy is a part-time programme of at least four years duration.
During Level 1 and 2 of the programme students attend:

Lectures 1-2 evenings per week
9 weekends from September to May
Process Group on evening per week for 30 weeks from September to May
Weekly Personal Therapy (mandatory from level 2).

Over the course of the first two years all students undergo feedback sessions and interviews to assess academic and personal eligibility to proceed to years 3 and 4. A decision is made at the end of year 2 on the basis of the material from the previous two years concerning suitability for client work. Students who successfully complete year 2 receive a Higher Certificate in Applied Social Studies - Counselling award.

During Level 3 and 4 of the programme students attend:

Lectures one evening per week from September to May
11 weekends from September to May
Weekly Personal Therapy
Individual and group supervision of client work.

Additional hours are required for client work, personal therapy and individual clinical supervision. Please note personal therapy and individual clinical supervision are an additional cost to be incurred by students.

Years 3 and 4 continue to include feedback sessions and interview and upon completion of these two final years, a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Degree is awarded.

Career Opportunities

The Bachelor of Arts (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy trains students in knowledge and skills fundamental to counselling and theraputic work in a wide variety of settings including private practice, voluntary agencies, hospitals, community centres, schools and colleges. This course is ideal for those who would like to pursue a training in counselling or psychotherapy. It is also of interest to those who would like to acquire counselling skills to enhance their work practices, e.g. human resource personnel, nurses, Gardai and teachers.

Furthermore, it would be of interest to practising counsellors and therapists who would like to complete a formal professionally recognised qualification in counselling and psychotherapy
The BA (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy is recognised by the Irish association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP). Graduates can apply to become full members of IACP and work towards accreditation by this major professional body. Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates may progress to the MA in Psychotherapy (link to this programme page) at DBS.

Dublin Business School has a dedicated Careers and Appointments Services department who work to develop the career prospects of the student body by teaching employment skills to be utilised following graduation and throughout a student’s professional life. The Careers office additionally publicises recruitment campaigns and current vacancies that may be of interest to students.
Additionally, internships and work experience opportunities are developed by our Employer Liaison Officer, with many DBS graduates continuing on to work within the company where they have completed their work placement.

For further information on the DBS Careers and Appointments Services, please visit the dedicated website

Fees

The Course Fees for BA (hons) in Counselling & Psychotherapy are €4,750 per annum.

You can view all part-time undergraduate arts degree courses fees or why not contact our admissions team who will also be able to advise on the payment options available to our students.

Fees quoted cover the annual cost of tuition per module including registration and examinations. Please note also that tax relief is available on fees for Irish income tax payers at the standard rate of 20% on all fees exceeding €1,000 and up to €7,000.

Next Steps

Visit Us

Open days are a great way to help you make your decision about your course of interest. The open day will give you the opportunity to receive one on one advice and direction from leading academics in your chosen subject area, meet current students and also have your questions answered on entry requirements, student support and the admissions process. Find out when our next Open Event is taking place.
The Admissions Office is located in our Aungier Street campus and you are welcome to visit the college to speak with a member of our admissions team from Monday to Fridays, 8:45am – 5:15pm. Alternatively, you can contact us by email.

Standard Applicants - Evening Arts Degrees

Standard Applicants for the Evening Arts Degree programmes must meet the minimum entry requirements of the College. For Evening Arts Degree programmes the minimum entry requirements are 2 honours in higher level subjects and 4 passes in ordinary level subjects (to include English or another language) in the Leaving Certificate or equivalent. The BA (Hons) Counselling & Psychotherapy programme also requires a minimum D3 in ordinary level Maths. Please forward the relevant documentation or any other second or third level qualifications (original & official English translation where issued in another language) to the Admissions Office. Proof of age such as a copy of driver’s licence or passport must also be submitted.

Mature Applicants - Evening Arts Degrees

If you are over 23 years of age and do not meet minimum entry requirements, you may apply as a mature student. Mature students are assessed on the basis of age, work experience, general education standard, motivation and commitment to the programme for which they are applying. Please forward documentation such as relevant transcripts, a CV and other related documentation to the Admissions Office. Proof of age such as a copy of driver’s licence or passport must also be submitted. While applications are welcome from any suitably qualified learners, applicants under the age of 25 may not have the necessary life experience to satisfactorily participate in this programme.

On receipt of application for the BA (Hons)Counselling & Psychotherapy at DBS and as part of the professional requirements for this programme, applicants will be sent a disclaimer and reference form. Applicants are required to complete and return these forms along with a 400 word personal statement (approx.) outlining their rationale and interest for applying in the programme.

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Now accepting applications for Autumn 2013

We are now accepting applications for all programmes commencing September 2013. Apply online or contact our admissions team for more information by calling 01 417 7500 Monday to Friday, 8.45am to 5.15pm or email admissions@dbs.ie

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MEET OUR STUDENTS

“I am delighted to have completed my BA (Hons) in Counselling and Psychotherapy which was tough going but was made enjoyable by the support of excellent teachers and great colleagues. It has given me a professional qualification that has allowed me to make a complete career change 20 years into my working life. It was well worth all the hard work.”

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