Higher Standard, Lower Investment

The Institute's Diploma of Professional Counselling is the country's most reasonably-priced counselling qualification. As Australia's largest and longest established provider of counsellor training, we're able to amortise our costs across a large number of students. Thus, we deliver a high standard of counselling education and study support, for a lower investment.

AIPC has specialised in external education for over 16 years and has a highly qualified Education Team who will support you throughout your studies. Help is only ever a phone call or email away and you have access to:

• An Education Team of over 65 degree qualified counselling professionals, all with extensive industry experience and teaching qualifications.

• An online Knowledge Base available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that contains over 4,000 specific questions and answers relating to your course.

• Unlimited FREE phone support 9am to 5pm (EST) on the 1300 Study Assistance Line where you can discuss any study questions you may have with Education Team members.

• Unlimited email support. Send a question any time and have your enquiry replied to within the next working day.

And you have the support of your local Student Support Centre who will link you into a local student support network (if you wish to stay in touch with other students); help you complete your practical assessments; and co-ordinate your In-Class or tutorial activities.

In a survey of several thousand students (Yes, we regularly ask students and graduates how we are performing so we can continually improve our level of service!), 86% of responders indicated that our level of student support was "Beyond their expectation".

AND, prospective students of the Institute can benefit from a variety of course investment methods, so your enrolment into the Diploma of Professional Counselling is not delayed due to financial considerations.

There are two payment options for students enrolling into the Diploma of Professional Counselling, each of them with specific advantages:

Upfront Payment Option

Students who decide to pay their course fee upfront will enjoy a substantial discount on the normal price of the Diploma. Students can concentrate on their future studies without having to worry about further payments.

Regular Payment Plan

Those students who do not want to pay their course fees upfront, can take advantage of making regular monthly payments over 21 or 24 months. Further savings apply if these monthly payments are made by credit card or direct debit. The Institute endeavours to keep the monthly repayments as affordable as possible.

Counselling... An Enriching Career

It's rare these days to hear people talk about their work with true passion. You hear so many stories of people working to pay the bills; putting up with imperfect situations; and compromising on their true desires.

That's why it's always so refreshing to hear regular stories from graduates living their dream to be a counsellor. They're always so full of energy, enthusiasm and passion. There's no doubt that counselling is one of the most personally rewarding and enriching professions.

Just imagine someone comes to you for assistance. They're emotionally paralysed by events in their life. They can't even see a future for themselves. They can only focus on their pain and grief. The despair is so acute it pervades their entire life. Their relationship is breaking down and heading towards a divorce.

They can't focus on work and are getting in trouble with their boss. They feel they should be able to handle their problems alone, but know they can't. It makes them feel helpless, worthless. Their self esteem has never been lower. They're caught in a cycle of destruction and pain.

Now imagine you have the knowledge and skills to help this person overcome their challenges. You assist to relieve their intense emotional pain. You give them hope for the future. You assist to rebuild their self esteem and lead a satisfying, empowered life.

As a counsellor you can experience these personal victories every day. And it is truly enriching. There is nothing more fulfilling than helping others overcome seemingly impossible obstacles.

Find out more about how you can re-discover passion in your career: 

• Diploma of Professional Counselling
• Bachelor of Counselling
• Vocational Graduate Courses

Article: Domestic Violence - Understanding the Situation

Published: Edition 54

Around the world at least one woman in every three has been beaten, abused or coerced into sex during her lifetime. Most often the abuser is a member of her own family. The prevalence of domestic violence is difficult to determine for several reasons: it often goes unreported, and there is some ambiguity about what should be included in the definition of domestic violence.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics estimates that only 31% of victims of domestic violence and 20% of female victims of sexual assault report the incidence to the police. Living in a domestically violent household is not easy. Some believe that leaving a domestically violent household is even more difficult. But we all have a right to feel safe.

In this article, we explore some areas of domestic violence, with a focus on the nature of this problem, its effects on families, and strategies to effectively cope with violence at home.  

50+ courses, 25+ videos and over 560 hours of training...

...for under $1 a day!

Counselling Academy's Unlimited Access Account gives you access to over 50 courses; over 560 hours of quality training; as well as video workshops and other educational resources!

What do you normally pay for a professional development workshop? $150? $350? Well now, with CA's Unlimited Access Account you have access to over 50 training programs (plus a new course per week being developed) for under $1 a day!

As an Unlimited user you can:

• Subscribe to as many courses as you want, with just one click.
• Access exclusive video workshops.
• Fast-track your professional development.
• Easily meet your PD requirements.
• Save $$$ with our monthly or annual payment options.
• Manage all your PD training needs from a single location.
• Plus much more.

If you want access to continuous training the Unlimited Access account is YOUR tailored solution.

To find out more and register, visit www.counsellingacademy.com.au/courses.  

Endorsed Professional Development:

• All CA courses and Video Workshops are approved for OPD points by the Australian Counselling Association and its local chapters.

• CA Video Workshops are approved for 30 PD points by the Australian Psychological Society (CCOUN, Generalist).

URL: www.counsellingacademy.com.au

Taking Steps for a Mentally Healthier You

Admit it. Most of us don't give our mental health much attention unless we are facing a serious problem. That's too bad, because in today's complicated and troubled world most of us could stand to reduce our stress and worry, and to feel better about ourselves.

Think of improving your mental health as similar to improving your physical health. Just as exercise gets your muscles in better shape, there are things you can do to get your feelings and attitudes into better shape.

How to begin? Start by making time for yourself. In today's busy world it's easy to fill our days with work, family and social obligations, leaving little or no time for ourselves.

The fix for that is to include "you" in your daily schedule. Create a real schedule that includes time each day for at least one thing you find relaxing or enjoyable. Maybe it's reading a book, working at a hobby, or just taking a relaxing walk. Put it in your schedule and make sure it happens.

Getting involved with others is another way to reduce stress and feel better about yourself. Today's tough economic times have many community, civic and religious organizations searching for volunteers to help carry out their work.

Giving something back to the community can offer a meaningful escape from your own problems (and often puts such problems in a better perspective) while also providing a sense of fulfillment and self-worth that's essential for good mental health.

And don't ignore staying physically fit as a means to improve mental health. Studies find regular exercise is a great way to fight depression, for example. Plus, as we get ourselves into better shape, we usually start to feel more confident about ourselves - everything from how we look to what we can do. And that's good mental health.

No, you can't make stress and problems just disappear, but building a little relaxation into your life, helping those in need and staying physically active can all improve mental health and make it easier to cope with the problems you will face.

But if you find that your own actions don't have you feeling better, check out the help that a counseling professional or other mental health professionals can offer.

There are many fixes for better mental health. Whether they are steps you take on your own, or help you get from a counseling professional, good mental health is a goal worth achieving.

Source: The Counseling Corner

"The Counseling Corner" is provided as a public service by the American Counseling Association, the United State's largest organisation of counselling professionals.

Learn more about the counselling at the ACA web site, www.counseling.org.

Did you enjoy this article? Then share the feeling and forward it to a friend! Quick reminder: Please send this eZine to all your family and friends so they too can enjoy the benefits. Thank you.

Many students of the Diploma of Professional Counselling attend seminars to complete the practical requirements of their course. Seminars provide an ideal opportunity to network with other students and liaise with qualified counselling professionals in conjunction with completing compulsory coursework.

Below are some of the seminars available in 2009. To register for a seminar, please contact your Student Support Centre.

BRISBANE

Communication Skills I - 08/08/09, 05/12/09

Communication Skills II - 11/07/09, 19/09/09, 14/11/09

The Counselling Process - 20/06/09, 22/08/09, 24/10/09

Counselling Therapies I - 18 & 19/07/09, 21 & 22/11/09

Counselling Therapies II - 15 & 16/08/09, 12 & 13/12/09

Case Management - 27 & 28/06/09, 17 & 18/10/09

Counselling Applications - 25/07/09, 28/11/09

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Communication Skills I - 04/07/09, 17/10/09

Communication Skills II - 22/08/09, 14/11/09

The Counselling Process - 13/06/09, 26/09/09

Counselling Therapies I - 10 & 11/10/09

Counselling Therapies II - 21 & 22/11/09

Case Management - 27 & 28/06/09, 05 & 06/12/09

Counselling Applications - 07/11/09

TASMANIA

Communication Skills I - 16/08/09, 15/11/09

Communication Skills II - 21/06/09, 20/09/09, 06/12/09

The Counselling Process - 19/07/09, 18/10/09

Counselling Therapies I - 01 & 02/08/09, 12 & 13/12/09

Counselling Therapies II - 13 & 14/06/09, 10 & 11/10/09

Case Management - 11 & 12/07/09, 21 & 22/11/09

Counselling Applications - 09/08/09, 29/11/09

SYDNEY

Communication Skills I - 22/06/09, 25/07/09, 10/09/09, 10/09/09, 28/09/09

Communication Skills II - 23/06/09, 27/07/09, 11/09/09, 29/09/09, 27/10/09

The Counselling Process - 27/06/09, 28/07/09, 22/08/09, 26/09/09, 16/10/09

Counselling Therapies I - 10 & 11/08/09, 29 & 30/10/09

Counselling Therapies II - 18 & 19/06/09, 28 & 29/08/09, 16 & 17/11/09

Case Management - 29 & 30/06/09, 24 & 25/09/09, 26 & 27/11/09

Counselling Applications - 18/07/09, 30/10/09, 12/12/09

MELBOURNE

Communication Skills I - 27/06/09, 23/07/09, 15/08/09, 03/09/09, 03/10/09

Communication Skills II - 19/06/09, 28/06/09, 24/07/09, 16/08/09, 04/09/09

The Counselling Process - 13/06/09, 16/07/09, 25/07/09, 07/08/09, 22/08/09

Counselling Therapies I - 11 & 12/07/09, 13 & 14/08/09, 05 & 06/09/09

Counselling Therapies II - 09 & 10/07/09, 01 & 02/08/09, 24 & 25/09/09

Case Management - 05 & 06/07/09, 09 & 10/08/09, 20 & 21/09/09

Counselling Applications - 14/06/09, 17/07/09, 26/07/09, 12/09/09, 18/09/09

ADELAIDE

Communication Skills I - 01/08/09, 17/10/09, 05/12/09

Communication Skills II - 02/08/09, 18/10/09, 06/12/09

The Counselling Process - 25/07/09, 12/09/09, 28/11/09

Counselling Therapies I - 15 & 16/08/09, 07 & 08/11/09

Counselling Therapies II - 13 & 14/06/09, 19 & 20/09/09

Case Management - 20 & 21/06/09, 24 & 25/10/09

Counselling Applications - 26/07/09, 29/11/09

PERTH

Communication Skills I - 18/07/09, 05/09/09, 07/11/09

Communication Skills II - 19/07/09, 06/09/09, 08/11/09

The Counselling Process - 01/08/09, 17/10/09, 05/12/09

Counselling Therapies I - 12 & 13/09/09

Counselling Therapies II - 20 & 21/06/09, 15 & 16/08/09

Case Management - 28 & 29/06/09, 11 & 12/10/09

Counselling Applications - 02/08/09, 28/11/09

SUNSHINE COAST

Communication Skills I - 26/09/09

Communication Skills II - 11/07/09, 31/10/09

The Counselling Process - 22/08/09, 28/11/09

Counselling Therapies I - 12 & 13/09/09

Counselling Therapies II - 24 & 25/10/09

Case Management - 08 & 09/08/09, 14 & 15/11/09

Counselling Applications - 20/06/09, 12/02/09

GOLD COAST

Communication Skills I - 29/08/09, 21/11/09

Communication Skills II - 27/06/09, 19/09/09

The Counselling Process - 25/07/09, 24/10/09

Counselling Therapies I - 31/10 & 01/11/09

Counselling Therapies II - 28 & 29/11/09

Case Management - 04 & 05/07/09

Counselling Applications - 26/10/09