Bereavement Counselling Diploma

Complementary Medical Association (CMA) Registered

Course Synopsis
Introduction
This course is designed to follow on from, and compliment the basic or introductory counselling course. Reappraisal of basic counselling skills and core knowledge will be covered, together with a detailed examination of the five approaches or theories counselling.
Specific attention will be given to psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural and person-centred approaches, which will give students a fuller working knowledge and understanding of advanced counselling skills. In specialist counselling fields, these advanced skills are necessary in order to be able to recognise and deal with the complex range of client needs, together with being able to understand the origins of these particular emotions and possible physiological factors.
The course consists of 10 modules, each with an assignment to complete. Upon completion of the whole course there will be required to pass a 5000 word extended essay question.

Module titles
   1. Reappraisal, approaches and theories of counselling
   2. The psychodynamic approach
   3. The cognitive behavioural approach
   4. The person-centred approach
   5. Process, skills and boundaries
   6. Loss: concepts, origins and perspectives
   7. Understanding bereavement
   8. Responding to grief
   9. Bereavement counselling for special groups: part 1
  10. Bereavement counselling for special groups: part 2

Module 1: Reappraisal, approaches and theories of counselling
This module reflects on previous knowledge and looks in detail at the five theories which have been adopted as approaches in counselling. In this module the work of Freud, Rogers, Skinner, Ellis, Jung and Eagan will be looked at in brief, and the corresponding counselling approaches examined.

Module 2: The psychodynamic approach
This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Module 3: The cognitive behavioural approach
This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Module 4: The person-centred approach
This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Module 5: Process, skill and boundaries
This module will examine the counselling process itself and the skills required in bereavement counselling. The module will also discuss boundaries or limitations in this most sensitive area of work and will look at how to recognise and deal with these limitations; where to go next.

Module 6: Loss; concepts, origins and perspectives
This modules looks at the concepts of loss, how human interpret different kinds of losses, and how these losses are categorized. Cultural issues within a multicultural society will be examined, together with peoples perspectives on death and the historical denial or fear which has evolved since modern 'death' has become an unseen event.

Module 7: Understanding bereavement
This module deals with the grieving process, how to understand the needs of bereaved people, and gives some insight into the psychology and possible physiological implications of the grieving process.

Module 8: Responding to grief
In this module the bereavement counselling sessions are covered. Appropriate vocabulary, expectations and responses will be examined, and there will be detailed references to particular skills which should be employed in certain situations.

Module 9: Bereavement counselling for special groups: part 1
This module deals with special groups: the loss of a partner, loss of a child, bereavement through trauma, disaster, war, terrorism and suicide.

Module 10: bereavement counselling for special groups: part 2
This module looks at the remaining special groups: children's bereavement, the loss of a pet, empathetic grief, and other bereavement situations.

Entry Requirements
Basic English reading and writing skills, as full tutor support is given.

Study Hours
Variable

Qualification
Diploma in Bereavement Counselling

What's Included
Unlimited full tutor support for two years

Course Fee
£295.00

Further Information
Please note that this is an online course and your materials are delivered within the College web site in PDF format.
In the student 'Common Room' you are also able to receive the latest course updates, extra materials and information. You will also be able to take part in the student chat room and forums as part of our online student community.
After enrolling online you will receive your username and password to access your materials within 5 working days. You will also receive your personal Oxford student number via email.
Courses in paper/file format are still available at an additional fee of £45.00 and must be enrolled upon via telephone. This service is only available to those students studying within the United Kingdom. All students outside the United Kingdom will receive the online format.