Irish Association of Holistic Medicine

 

The Diploma in Counselling & Psychotherapy

 

 

DIPLOMA (Year 2) PROGRAMME

 

Only available  to those who have successfully completed Year 1 with all its requirements.  This course trains people who have demonstrated the right type of personal aptitudes to work professionally as holistic counsellors and psychotherapists.  It includes in-depth exposure to the holistic/humanistic model, as well as training in techniques derived from other models.

Humanistic Psychotherapy II:

Person Centred Therapy: A more in-depth treatment of the principles and practice of person centred therapy. Highlights the spiritual and transformational aspects of Rogers work in his later years and integrates this with basic holistic psychotherapy and philosophy.

Gestalt Therapy: Focuses on the experiential work of Fritz Perls who encouraged clients to directly experience reality rather than thinking about and talking about it. Includes exercises on body awareness, living in the present moment, expressing your feelings and being in the now, as ways of uncovering the ‘authentic self’.

Family Dynamics II: More in-depth experience of the work of Virginia Satir, particularly focusing on family scripts and how dysfunctional behaviour in the family of origin contribute to psychological distress in later life. This section of the course is taught through role play, family sculpting, and the creation of family tableaux to create an environment where people can move on from problem patterns.

Neuro Linguistic Programming II: Continuation of skills developed in the 1st module. Includes behavioural modelling techniques for modelling success, reframing, programming and reprogramming, the fast phobia cure.

Solution Focused Brief Therapies II: Skills of brief effective psychotherapy. Topics include; building co-operation, considering preferred futures rather than unwanted pasts and finding the client’s way of changing.

Cognitive BehaviourTherapy (CBT) : Based on the work of Beck and Ellis, this section of the course focuses on uncovering irrational thinking patterns that lead to psychological dysfunction and how these can be modified for psychological wholeness.

CBT Techniques for Stress Management

 

Introduction to Ericksonian Hypnosis: Indirect approach to hypnosis based on the work of Milton Erickson. Includes indirect hypnosis techniques for utilising a person’s beliefs, interests and personality to help them overcome their problems.

Professional Development: Clinical Methods. Taking case histories and notes. Ethical and legal issues. Client confidentiality. Referrals.

Supervision: Supervision by course tutors is an integral part of the course and takes place in three hour ‘blocks’ throughout the course. A method of reciprocal peer supervision is also taught so students can support and learn from each other.

 

Psychology II

Brain Physiology: The mental effects of neurotransmitters and hormones. The role of nutrition. Psychoactive drugs. Psychophysiology.

Social Psychology: Individual and society, social and cultural determinants of behaviour, social influence, attitudes. Relationships,

Abnormal Psychology: Anxiety disorders, phobias, depression, behaviour disorders, psychosexual problems, schizophrenia etc. The work of the holistic psychotherapist is geared towards the ‘normal individual’ encountering adjustment difficulties in life situations, but trainees need to develop an appreciation of what the boundaries are in treatment and to refer on where necessary.