This is your ideal opportunity to expand your specialist knowledge and formalise your skills with a graduate qualification. You can enrol in the Vocational Graduate Diploma or Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling at a massive 75% off market price, saving you thousands. Spend just 2-minutes to learn more below.

 

Learn How You Can Gain Specialty Expertise And A Graduate Qualification With A Vocational Graduate Certificate Or Vocational Graduate Diploma In Counselling…

 

… In Only 6 to 12 Months

 

Dear Counsellor,

 

Have you noticed the world is getting more specialised?

 

I remember 15-years ago if you had a health problem you just went to your local GP. Now it seems every illness requires a specialist. There are specialists for everything now: mortgage brokers; lawyers; builders; accountants; IT consultants. Every industry is specialised.

 

Why Is The World Becoming So Specialised?

 

DID YOU KNOW that as late as 1829 there was a single person attributed to knowing everything there was to know at that time? That person was Thomas Young. Young contributed substantially to the Encyclopedia Britannica; understood and expanded on the sciences at the time, including Newtonian Theories; and even broke the code of the Rosetta Stone (an ancient Egyptian artifact, created in 196BC, that was instrumental in advancing modern understanding of hieroglyphic writing).

 

Clearly Young was a genius, but the point is, in today’s information age it’s impossible for any one person to know even a fragment of the knowledge available to society.

 

In The Last 150-Years The Amount Of Information Has Vastly Surpassed The Capacity Of The Human Brain

 

The increase in knowledge over the past 150-years has been extraordinary. Man (homo sapiens) is approximately 200,000 years old. Yet in the last 150 years we’ve progressed dramatically more than we did in the preceding 200,000 years.

 

As more and more knowledge becomes available, to effectively apply that knowledge we need to specialise. This process leads to more discoveries as people focus their attention in specific fields and on specific problems. This cycle is the stimulus to the exponential growth in knowledge.

 

What Are The Implications For You And Your Clients?

 

The explosion of knowledge is as prominent in mental health as other industries. Just 100 years ago bloodletting was used to treat mental problems. Then we moved on to electro convulsive therapy. And in the 1940’s Walter Freeman wrote that lobotomies would: “Make good American citizens of society’s misfits, schizophrenics, homosexuals, and radicals.”

 

In fact, psychology only became a profession in the first half of the 20th Century, with only a handful of psychologists delivering services to the public. However, stimulated by the demands of World War II, it experienced rapid growth in the 1950’s.

 

THANKFULLY, in the last 50-years we’ve made substantial progress. During the 50’s and 60’s advances in research on mental health and psychological processes led to renewed interest in cognition and the biological bases of behaviour.

 

In the 1980’s, Western psychologists developed increased interest in cultural variables influencing behaviour. And only in the 1990’s did the evolutionary psychology perspective emerge.

 

You Must Specialise To Provide Optimum Care To Your Clients

 

Just as our knowledge of the mind and its workings has dramatically improved, so has our knowledge of issues facing counselling clients. In fact, there is now so much expert knowledge available on specific issues that most professionals need to specialise in their field of interest. Only by specialising can you attain the intimate knowledge you require to provide optimum care to your clients.

 

Evolved Training For An Evolved Market

 

To gain specialist knowledge you require commensurately evolved training. The most effective way to gain specialist professional knowledge is through a Vocational Graduate qualification; either a Vocational Graduate Certificate or Vocational Graduate Diploma.

 

Vocational Graduate qualifications provide a higher level, vocational alternative to traditional Post Graduate courses offered by Universities. Vocational Graduate courses provide extended, advanced and specialist learning for those who do not want the additional time or cost constraints of traditional University, theory-based Post Graduate education; or those that may not meet entry requirements to Post Graduate courses. Vocational Graduate qualifications, though, do not compromise on the quality or level of education.

 

The Vocational Graduate qualification is:

 

• Practical. Vocational Graduate qualifications are a careful blend of theory and practical application, designed to provide you the best platform on which to develop your specialist knowledge and expertise to an advanced level.  The Institute’s Vocational Graduate counselling courses skill students with an advanced level of practical counselling skill in specialist and complex counselling scenarios, built on a thorough foundation of theory.
  
  
• Accessible. The Vocational Graduate qualification is designed to allow entry from both vocational and graduate pathways. They are an ideal extension of learning for those with a Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Bachelor qualification; or counsellors with extensive experience but no formal qualifications.
  
  
• Flexible. All Institute programs are designed to fit around your other life commitments. The Vocational Graduate courses can be completed almost entirely at home. The practical components can be completed at your convenience in a local seminar, or by alternate means.
  
  
• Cost effective. A Vocational Graduate qualification is the most cost effective way to gain a graduate qualification.
  
  
• Specialist. Vocational Graduate qualifications are designed to enhance your theoretical understanding and experiential skills to a profound level in specific areas. For this reason they’re the ideal way to educate in your area of interest.
  
  
• Time efficient. A Vocational Graduate qualification can be attained in a much shorter time than other graduate qualifications. In fact, the Vocational Graduate qualifications offered by the Institute can be completed in around 6 to 12-months.

 

Do You Have A Diploma?

Well, You Can Enrol In The Vocational Graduate Qualification

 

The Vocational Graduate qualification can be entered through the graduate or vocational pathway. So, even if you have a Diploma qualification in counselling, you can undertake a Vocational Graduate course.

 

Vocational graduate qualifications provide a higher level vocational alternative to post graduate qualifications. They are an ideal extension of learning if you have counselling experience but no formal qualifications; or if you have Diploma or Advanced Diploma qualifications in counselling but are not able to progress into a post graduate qualification.

 

Vocational graduate courses are vocationally focused. They skill students with highly practical, applicable vocational and occupational expertise for the workplace, underpinned by an extensive theoretical base.

 

Your Qualification Is Developed And Supported By The Largest Educator Of Counsellors In The Country

 

Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors is the largest and longest established private trainer of counsellors in Australia. The Institute was Australia’s first, and still is the only exclusive, national provider of counsellor education. Our focus is the same today as it has always been – to provide you with the highest quality counsellor education with a full range of student and graduate support functions.

 

Over the past 17 years we’ve helped over 50,000 people from 27 countries pursue their goal of becoming a counsellor. Training counsellors is our sole focus. And this focus gives us some very unique insights into the needs of the industry.

 

We have a dedicated team of over 80 psychologists, counsellors, curriculum writers, educators and industry representatives, whose sole purpose is to ensure our courses are of the highest educational value.

 

The standard of counsellor education set by the Institute is exceptionally high. All Institute lecturers and academic staff have their principal tertiary qualifications in Psychology, Counselling, Behavioural Science or another appropriate discipline, and all meet national registration requirements. Institute lecturers also have several years practical counselling experience combined with recognised instructional skills.

 

Learning That Fits Around Your Lifestyle

 

Today there are more and more demands on your time. Gaining a qualification can be difficult when you have to fit it around other commitments.

 

Most course providers still design their courses using traditional methods. That was fine 10 years ago when most students studied full time. Today we don’t have that luxury. You need to fit competing career, family and lifestyle needs into the same hours.

 

That’s why the Institute focuses on external, flexible training. Our learning methods have evolved with the times. Our training methods set a precedent in flexibility and support. This means you can fit your learning around your lifestyle whilst maintaining exceptional levels of quality and support.

 

Institute courses are designed to maximise your learning from home. You can progress at your own pace, and assessment is progressive.

 

The specialised course material and extensive support provide you with all the expert support and advice you need. Because you are in total control of your study time, you can complete your course several times faster than by other means.

 

Specialising Is Good For Business

 

People prefer dealing with specialists over generalists. People seek the fastest and most efficient solution to their problems. This is equally true in mental health. Doctors prefer referring to specialists (as the perception is their patients will be better served), and patients prefer seeing a specialist.

 

As such, specialising is good for business. Specialists attract more patients, have less patient attrition, and develop better professional affiliations. And specialists charge more for their services. Patients are willing to pay more for specialist knowledge, experience and solutions.

 

Get A Graduate Qualification In Family Therapy; Grief & Loss; or Addictions

 

You can now undertake either a Vocational Graduate Certificate or Vocational Graduate Diploma in Family Therapy; Loss and Grief; and Addictions. These are the 3 most prominent specialties in the Australian marketplace.

 

Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling

 

The Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling allows you to acquire a coherent, systemic knowledge of a dedicated field to engage in highly specialised counselling.  You will be able to initiate, plan and implement appropriate interventions and demonstrate personal accountability and responsibility.

The Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling consists of five units. Two units are core units and three units are Specialty Units from your chosen Stream.

 

Core Unit 1

The first core unit covers managing and facilitating collaborative counselling practice at an advanced level. This unit equips you to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary team or work environment.  The processes of coordinating service delivery are analysed, and aspects of case management are examined including the formulation of a collaborative case plan and the evaluation of service delivery.  A range of applications across workplace settings are covered including hospitals, community agencies, aged care facilities, schools, government departments and private enterprise.

Core Unit 2

The second core unit focuses on analysing and implementing ethical decision making in counselling practice and guides you in identifying complex dilemmas in practice, the issues involved and where to refer to make an informed decision about the best course of action.  You learn how to evaluate chosen solutions to complex ethical dilemmas in line with principles of reflective practice.

 

After completing the two core units, you progress onto the three units of your chosen Specialty Stream. 

 

ADDICTIONS

The Addictions Specialty Stream begins by analysing theories of substance use, misuse and addictions beyond the basic psychological principles of addiction to an understanding of the interplay between social, biological, psychological, contextual and environmental factors in the aetiology and maintenance of addictions.    The Stream continues onto learning a wide ranging knowledge of drug classification including pharmacological categories to obtain an advanced knowledge of the effects and observable symptoms for depressants, narcotics, stimulants and hallucinogens. You then learn how to utilise this knowledge to help prepare clients for detoxification and withdrawal.   The third unit prepares you to use appropriate assessment, treatment planning and referral strategies in counselling practice.  You’ll lead the development of a comprehensive multidimensional assessment, design and execute an appropriate and valid treatment plan, and monitor and coordinate referrals.  Working with coerced or mandated clients is also covered.

FAMILY THERAPY

The Family Therapy Specialty Stream begins with applying theoretical concepts in family therapy such as analysing patterns of family communication, recognising and addressing cases of triangulation, and applying transactional analysis to explain family communication.  Contributions of leading family therapy theorists are evaluated, and family structure and multigenerational patterns are examined and explained.   The Stream progresses onto developing and applying narrative intervention initiatives in family therapy including an analysis of principles of Postmodernism, evaluation of dominant social and cultural narratives on individuals and families, and integrating narrative interventions into family therapy processes.   The third unit concentrates on employing systemic practice techniques in Family Therapy.  You facilitate a variety of family interventions based on the works of Bowen and Minuchin.  Skills include family assessment interviews, genograms, family patterns and communication transactions, relationship boundary marking and modification using a culturally-sensitive framework.

GRIEF AND LOSS

The Grief and Loss Specialty Stream begins with evaluating theoretical and conceptual methods in loss and grief practice including theories of bereavement, phases of grief, responses to grief, adjustment and transition processes, coping strategies, adaptive and complicated grief, and support options.   The Stream continues with you applying therapeutic clinical approaches to loss and grief.  The integration of the goals of loss and grief therapy into a plan for effective intervention, managing the expression of intense emotion, and assessing and responding to patterns of complicated or dissonant grieving are covered.  This unit also includes developing an awareness of your personal experiences of loss and grief and how to effectively manage this when counselling others.   The third unit covers facilitating group support in loss and grief and includes the initiation, development and design of a program for loss and grief support, planning group membership through appropriate assessment and selection procedures, and coordinating, facilitating, reviewing and amending a group support program.

 

Each Specialty Stream is supported by a practical component which can be completed by attending a two-day seminar; a private assessment; or submitting a video/DVD of your practical skills demonstration.

 

Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling

 

The Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling provides you with a more advanced understanding of a dedicated field to demonstrate an expert command of a highly specialised counselling field.  You will be able to initiate, plan and implement major interventions and engage in supervisory, leadership and/or management capacities in human services work.

 

If you continue into the Vocational Graduate Diploma from the Vocational Graduate Certificate, you only need to complete 3 units in addition to your Vocational Graduate Certificate units. These units consist of one extra core unit and two units for the Specialty Stream completed during your Vocational Graduate Certificate.  There is also one more practical component to be completed.

 

The Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling consists of 8 units. There are 3 core units and 5 units from your chosen Specialty Stream. 

 

The first two core units are the same as those completed for the Vocational Graduate Certificate. 

 

Additional Core Unit

The additional core unit integrates reflective practice strategies into counselling. You develop advanced skills in self-management and monitoring to deliver counselling that is mindful and intentional.  You examine your personal values, beliefs and biases in detail and their impact on the role of counsellor.  Feedback, revision, evaluation, self care, professional development and supervision are explored during the unit.   The first three units of each Specialty Stream are the same as those required for the respective stream in the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling.

ADDITIONAL ADDICTIONS UNIT 1

The Addictions Specialty Stream continues with a unit covering conducting advanced behaviour change interventions and motivational interviewing to explore ambivalence and assess client readiness to change.  Stages of change are applied to case studies and strategies to encourage and enhance motivation are applied across all stages of the change model.

ADDITIONAL ADDICTIONS UNIT 2

The final unit in the Stream concentrates on applying harm reduction, crisis intervention and risk management strategies as a framework for responding to crisis and risk when working with clients with addictions.  You learn to assess the level and immediacy of risk, implement and manage risk minimisation procedures, initiate continuing support for clients, and coordinate and facilitate staff debriefing.

ADDITIONAL FAMILY THERAPY UNIT 1

The Family Therapy Specialty Stream progresses into coordinating interventions for children and adolescents, adopting a collaborative approach to goal setting and intervention planning appropriate to the client’s stage of development.

ADDITIONAL FAMILY THERAPY UNIT 2

The final unit of this Stream applies risk management and crisis intervention procedures in the practice of family therapy.  Responding appropriately and efficiently to risk situations, managing disclosures of abuse and/or violence, and following up the effectiveness of crisis intervention procedures are covered.  There is also an emphasis on supervision, debriefing and self care.

ADDITIONAL GRIEF AND LOSS UNIT 1

The Grief and Loss Specialty Stream continues with a focus on planning and initiating interventions in complicated or unresolved grief including the assessment of complicated grieving patterns and how they are different from expected responses to loss.  You analyse client symptoms to initiate interventions to help clients recognise inhibiting factors in the grief process and work towards their resolution.

ADDITIONAL GRIEF AND LOSS UNIT 2

The final unit of this Stream provides a framework to respond to traumatic grief.  Communicating sensitively and compassionately with individuals experiencing sudden, unexpected loss; assessing their readiness for intervention; and designing, managing and implementing traumatic grief interventions are covered in this unit.

 

Each Stream is supported by two practical components.  Each practical can be completed by attending a two-day seminar; a private assessment; or submitting a video/DVD.

 

You can enrol into the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling or Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling at the time of your enrolment.

 

If you enrol in the Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling, you can progress into the Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling at any time during or after your Vocational Graduate Certificate course. 

 

As it is rare for clients to present with single, isolated issues, it is also common for counsellors to specialise in a couple of fields of counselling.  Hence, after you finish your Vocational Graduate Certificate in Counselling, you can complete additional Specialty Streams at the Vocational Graduate Certificate level (3 units per stream) if you choose.

 

On the other hand, some students prefer to enrol directly into the Vocational Graduate Diploma of Counselling where they complete all five units of their chosen Specialty Stream as part of their course, and can continue their studies with additional Specialty Streams at either the Vocational Graduate Certificate level (3 units per Stream) or Vocational Graduate Diploma level (5 units per Stream).

 

As you can see, the choice is yours.  The structure of the courses and Specialty Streams allows you to choose the course that suits your study needs and future counselling career goals.

 

Save Over $6,000 (67% Discount To Market)

 

PLUS

 

Get A Second Specialty FREE^*…

 

A Vocational Graduate Diploma at a university costs between $10,000 and $38,000 (see comparative table below). BUT, you don’t have to pay these exorbitant amounts for an equally high quality qualification.

 

You can do your qualification with the Institute and save a massive $6,000+ on the cost of doing a similar course at university.

 

• You’ll gain an equivalent accredited, recognised qualification for under half the investment.
  
  
• You’ll have more personal support from our professional team. And our team of counselling specialists is larger than ALL universities in the country COMBINED.
  
  
• And you’ll have greater flexibility to fit your studies around your life commitments.

 

 

 

 

How The Institute Delivers The Course At Such A Reasonable Rate Without Sacrificing Quality

 

Have you ever been to a University campus? Beautiful aren’t they. All the magnificent buildings spanning across acres of gardens. There are cafeterias, gyms, games rooms and sporting fields.

 

Yes, they’re beautiful, but they cost a FORTUNE to run. And these costs are reflected in how much their courses cost. When you study at university your course fees are contributing to the cost of running that beautiful campus. And that’s the main reason why a university qualification costs two to three times as much as the same qualification through a private institution. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the quality of education.

 

If you want to gain an equivalent qualification, but don’t want the massive surcharge that comes with studying at university, you have an alternative.

 

Take a quick look at some advantages to learning with the Institute:

 

• You just pay for your education! We don’t have massive campus’ to maintain; hence your investment is significantly less, saving you thousands.
  
  
• Because we focus solely on counselling, we have more qualified counselling lecturers and assessors than ALL universities in Australia combined. Now that’s a resource of knowledge and experience. Is there any wonder we’re the leading provider of counsellor training in the country.
  
  
• We focus on flexible training. You can complete your qualification almost entirely at home. You have lots of support systems and staff so you’ll never feel isolated. And you can complete the practical components at local seminars or by alternate means.
  
  
• Institute academic staff are required to be as highly qualified and experienced as university staff.

 

AS YOU CAN SEE, if you want comparably high standard training; with more flexibility and personal support; yet don’t want to pay a massive financial surcharge for campuses … then learning with the Institute is your only logical choice.

 

Deeper Understanding, Peer Recognition, Formalisation Of Skills, And A More Successful Practice

 

CONSIDER what a graduate qualification can help you achieve:

 

• Develop a deeper understanding of your area of interest and achieve more optimal outcomes with your clients.
  
  
• A higher level graduate qualification will assist you move up the corporate ladder from practitioner to manager/ supervisor.
  
  
• Make the shift from being a generalist practitioner to a specialist.
  
  
• Gain greater professional recognition from your peers.
  
  
• Increased client referrals from allied health professionals.
  
  
• Maximise job opportunities in your preferred specialty area.
  
  
• Formalise years of specialist experience with a respected qualification.

 

 

You Can Not Lose!
You Are Fully Covered By…

 

 

All That's Left To Do Now Is Enrol

 

 

OR contact your local branch:

 

 

We look forward to helping you pursue your professional counselling aspirations.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Sandra Poletto
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors.

 

* For a limited time and only applicable to applications enrolling via the Online Application Form.