Graduate Certificate in Counselling
Academic Programmes
- Accredited and awarded by Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
- Organised by the Executive Counselling and Training Academy in academic partnership with Mount Elizabeth Hospital and Parkway College of Nursing and Allied Health
- The Master of Counselling offered by Flinders University in Singapore in partnership with ECTA, is equivalent to the Master of Counselling offered at the Adelaide, Australia campus of Flinders University.
Graduate Certificate in Counselling
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling is a six-month course. It is the first stage of a 24-month “nested suite” course that includes Stage 2: Graduate Diploma in Counselling, and Stage 3: Master of Counselling.
Total Units: 18
Course Structure
COURSE STRUCTUREUnits
MHSC8036: Foundation Counselling Theories and Approaches4.5
MHSC8037 Counselling Processes, Goals and Interventions4.5
MHSC8039 Generic Counselling Competencies4.5
MHSC8038 Principles of Counselling Ethics and Supervision4.5
Course Aims
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling is designed to provide counselling practice and training for professionals involved in mental health and social services as well as those in fields where counselling skills play a primary occupational role.
The course offers a broad approach to counselling with an introduction to practical counselling skills and the processes of counselling. It also provides opportunities for skills acquisition and application. The course is practical in nature and is tailored to help the Trainee Counsellor develop an awareness of self and to obtain a well-articulated understanding of the stages of counselling.
Course Objectives
On completion of the course, you will be able to:
- Analyse the evidence that informs practice and explains the interaction between mind, body and environment in the health and wellbeing of individuals
- Demonstrate the relationships between behaviours and physical and mental health, and the factors influencing health behaviours through application of theory to practice (knowledge translation)
- Integrate self-management, counselling and person-centric care to promote and support self-efficacy and increase health literacy
Duration
The Graduate Certificate in Counselling is a six-month course. It is the first stage of a 24-month “nested suite” course that includes Stage 2: Graduate Diploma in Counselling, and Stage 3: Master of Counselling. Lectures are usually held on one weekday evening per week, and on some Saturdays for a full day.
Duration: Part-time, 6 months
CONTACT HOURS (214 Hours)
Lectures: 122
Clinical Practice: 62
Case Management: 28
Group Supervision: 6
Individual Supervision: 5
Counselling Direct Contact Hours: 10
Personal Counselling: 3
Professional Development Learning (PDL): 10
Personal Journal: 30
Entry Requirements
Applicants must hold one of the following:
- Degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution
- Minimum of five years of full-time relevant working experience AND evidence of continuous professional development (PD) in management / leadership programs, skills development, counselling courses, tertiary courses related to psychology, social work or nursing
However, the Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Applicants are required to possess at least 5 GCE “O” Level Passes, including a credit for English Language. Applicants without a credit in English can provide evidence of having attended the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and attain an overall band score of at least 6.5 points. Alternatively, applicants may also show evidence of their academic qualifications conducted in the English Language (e.g., qualifications from other countries). A Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) Pass grade of B2.
RESIDENCY STATUS
Applicants must be a Singapore Citizen, a Singapore Permanent Resident, or a holder of a valid Work Permit, or valid Dependent Pass.
ACADEMIC AND/OR PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- A Bachelor Degree (may not be counselling-related); OR
- A Diploma (or its equivalent); OR
- A Certificate (or its equivalent)
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Applicants will be assessed for suitability through:
- an interview via ZOOM or face-to-face;
- submission of a 200-word statement explaining why they have chosen to pursue a counselling programme, and what they intend to do with the qualifications attained; and
- provision of one character reference where the referee is unrelated to the applicant at a personal level, for example, a family member of and relative, and who has a good knowledge of the applicant’s quality of work and suitability for the counselling programme (click here for a sample character reference letter)
Selection is based on the interview and applicants’ aptitude for the programme as determined by applicants’ suitability, academic qualifications, and work experience.
| QUALIFICATIONS | TRACK | STAGE 1
Graduate Certificate in Counselling |
STAGE 2
Graduate Diploma in Counselling |
STAGE 3
Master of Counselling |
| Basic Degree | 1 | 6 months | 6 months | 12 months |
| Post-Graduate Diploma in Counselling and a Basic Degree | 2 | Academic Credit Exemptions with Insertions | Academic Credit Exemptions with Insertions | 12 months |
| Significant and Relevant Work Experience (SRWE)*
GCE ‘O’ or ‘A’ Level or Diploma with substantial work experience No Academic Credit (Exemptions) |
3 | 6 months | 6 months | 12 months |
Definition of Significant and Relevant Work Experience (SRWE)
Relevant work experience that may be considered as a basis of admission to the Graduate Certificate in Counseling includes the following:
- management and leadership programs;
- skills development programs;
- para-counseling courses;
- personal and professional development courses;
- short courses on various counseling approaches;
- community, social services and health science courses;
- tertiary courses that provide a broad overview of relevant topics in counselling;
- courses related to Educational Studies / Psychology / Social Work / Nursing;
- assessment and intervention courses;
- community crisis training.
| Course Title: Graduate Certificate in Counselling |
| Group Supervision |
| Individual Supervision |
Course Fees
Please refer to the Fee Payment Structure for more information.
Course Assessments
Details and requirements of Course assessments may be found in the Student Learner Guide which will be distributed to Trainee Counsellors on the day of the Course Orientation. Members of the public may access the required information by calling or e-mailing ECTA.
Course assessments required for the Units are as follows:
MHSC8039 Generic Counselling Competencies (4.5 Units)
1 Essay, 1 Case Study and Classroom Live Assessment.
MHSC8036: Foundation Counselling Theories and Approaches (4.5 Units)
2 Essays.
MHSC8037 Counselling Processes, Goals and Interventions (4.5 Units)
Online Assessment and 1 Essay.
MHSC8038 Principles of Counselling Ethics and Supervision (4.5 Units)
Practicum log of counselling hours and clinical supervisor’s final report.
Graduating Criteria
The graduation criteria are available in the Student Learner Guide which will be distributed to Trainee Counsellors on the day of the Course Orientation. Members of the public may access the required information by calling or e-mailing ECTA.
Upon successful completion of the course of study and meeting the graduation criteria stipulated by Flinders University and ECTA, students will be awarded the Graduate Certificate in Counselling. Below is a sample certificate.
Teaching Methodology
Trainee counsellors will develop and enhance their counselling skills through an integrated approach based on lectures, role-plays, video-clip viewing, small group discussions and clinical supervision.
Registration
Click for Online Application
