At times of grief, loss and trauma, people can find it hard to cope. Train to support people through the difficult times of their life with this distance learning course.

• Study 10 modules covering counselling and management in the areas of grief, stress, anger and conflict.

• Course includes our module Starting a Small Business.

• Course Duration: 1000 hours of self paced study.  Start at any time and work at a pace to suit you.

When we physically hurt ourselves, we get a bruise or a cut, but when we are angry, grieving and stressed, we can not always see the physical signs of how we are feeling. Sometimes if we are really angry or upset, then yes another person can see that, but often we keep our feelings inside.  These feelings can then affect our mental and physical health.

Stress, grief and anger can lead to long term physical health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes and more. 

If you would like to help people to find ways to reduce the negative emotions they are feeling, then this course will provide you with a solid foundation to work in this area.

CORE MODULES

Grief Counselling

Learn more about the nature and scope of grief and loss with this eight lesson course. Look at the stages of grief, grief in children, adolescents and grief, adjustment to bereavement, abnormal grief, preparing for grief and bereavement, future outlook and long term grief.

Anger Management BPS111

This 9 lesson module will help students to learn to understand anger and explore techniques that can be useful in the management of anger.  The module explores different theories relating to emotion and anger looking at different therapies, techniques, and counselling that can be used to manage anger.  Important areas for consideration are individuals with mental health issues, personality disorders, and children and adolescents; there are separate lessons dedicated to these.  A problem based learning project completes the module, where the student will create and present a plan of anger management for an individual experiencing serious anger difficulties.

Stress Management VPS100

The 8 lesson module in Stress Management will provide the student with an understanding of how our bodies react to stress, and how this may be coped with.  We look at how stress may be controlled, and how we may relax.  Stress is a notable factor in everyone’s lives, and different people have different ways in dealing with it.  There are many factors which contribute to this – different personalities, our approach to diet (“we are what we eat”), how we view ourselves, how we manage our career, to name but a few.  This detailed module will guide the student through all of these areas and much more, enabling them to appreciate their own situations as well as providing the knowledge to let them help others in managing their stress.

Conflict Management

Conflict management is an eight lesson module covering what is conflict, techniques, conflict handling styles, anger, approaches to handling anger, dealing with your own anger, listening, negotiation, mediation, facilitation, balance of power, discussion and group work, group conflict exercises, crisis analysis and responses.

Counselling Skills I BPS109

There are a number of different aspects which a counsellor needs to consider – they need to know what sort of questions to ask, they need to listen to the responses, but they also need to form some bond with those who they are counselling.  This 8 lesson module looks at different types of counselling, considering the different theories and approaches that a counsellor may consider.  The module considers how the counsellor may bond with their client, how the client should be made to feel at ease and the combination of elements which will contribute to this.  Students will consider how to approach questioning – the types of question to ask and those that should be avoided, and whether they wish to develop discussion with open questions or use closed questions to determine a direction.  With lessons that include interview techniques, therapies and how to conclude a counselling session, and case studies to provide context and practical examples, this is a useful module which will benefit people in many areas ranging from parenting, to the work place, to teaching, to volunteer work, and training.

Life Coaching BPS305

This 10 lesson module will enable the student to determine what life coaching is and what distinguishes it from other professions such as psychotherapists, counsellors and so on.  Students will understand the balance and relationship of elements required for a well-balanced life and the relationships between these.  The module highlights key coaching processes and the skills that a life coach needs to develop in order to effectively communicate with their client.  It covers such key areas as psychology, physiology, stress, and nutrition, with the concluding lesson of the module looking at the review procedure and determining whether or not and how a programme may be reassessed.

Abnormal Psychology BPS307

This is an 11 lesson module.  Students will study the signs and symptoms of different psychological conditions.  Disorders may be caused by environmental, physical, or genetic influences.  The module starts by looking at disorders that are usually diagnosed during infancy, which is then followed by a series of lessons which focus on the causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of different types of disorder.  The disorders covered in the module include cognitive disorders, substance-related disorders, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, dissociative disorders, sexual/gender disorders, eating and sleep disorders, control disorders, and personality disorders.  Students will be expected to describe and distinguish between different types of disorders and their work will include the diagnosis and development of treatment for specified disorders.

Motivation VBS111

Through 8 lessons, the Motivation module looks at paths to the motivation of individuals and groups.  It considers reinforcement, conditioning, and reward as well as looking at the effect of group influences on personal motivation, and other less direct forms such as space and time management.  Being able to properly motivate individuals provides tangible benefits for everyone in a multitude of environments, whether enhancing learning by enabling the student to be more receptive, or increasing productivity in the workplace by engendering a positive culture, you improve the outcome for the individual/group both in terms of the direct result but also for their own personal wellbeing.  The module concludes with a special project where a student will apply their newfound knowledge to plan strategies for improving individual’s motivation in the work place.

Managing Mental Health In Adults BPS216

This is a 9 lesson module which explores the scope and nature of mental health in adults along with the treatments for various conditions.  The module considers issues arising from different factors, such as biological or environmental influences and introduces students to different viewpoints on subjects, enabling them through greater understanding to develop their own ideas and opinions on the different conditions covered.  Areas covered by the module include depression, anxieties, phobias, and personality disorders.  Also included within this module is lesson focusing on self-help options for mental health sufferers, with the concluding lesson which will involve the student determining mental health services and options available.

Starting a Small Business VBS101

Through 12 lessons, this module introduces you to the world of running a business.  Students will learn about the first steps to take – what types of business there are, planning, and marketing a business.  As well as learning about forming a business, the module considers all important aspects in lessons including planning, budgeting, and bookkeeping.  The module will provide the essentials basics to forming a business and give those studying the pointers to the correct approach to making a success of their venture.

HOW THE COURSE WORKS
You can start the course at any time.

It is studied by distance learning, so you can study in the comfort of your own home. But this doesn't mean you are all alone in your studies.  Our highly qualified and friendly tutors are there to help you every step of the way.  If you have any questions at all, they are always happy to help.

To complete the course, you are required to study 10 modules.  Each module will take approximately 100 hours to complete.

There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. For example, in the Anger Management module, there are nine lessons, so nine assignments.

At the end of each module, there is also an examination which you can take at a time and location to suit you.

To pass the course you are required to pass all assignments and 10 exams.

If you are not sure about going straight to the diploma, you can study each of these modules as a standalone course.

PROFESSIONALS MUST CARE FOR THEMSELVES TOO

Counselling, coaching and other professionals in any helping profession will always be vulnerable to being affected by the problems of those they are trying to help. It is important that they maintain their own psychological well being though; otherwise they are at risk of burnout.

Debrief Regularly

A debrief is where a coach may tell a more experienced coach about a difficult situation they have experienced in their coaching and look at ways they could have handled this better. Anyone who works in intense relationships with others needs to debrief so as to avoid burnout. Whilst supervision offers one way of doing this there are many other ways that a coach can learn to wind down after a challenging session.

What is Burnout?
Burnout is a psychological term that is used to describe the experience of diminished interest and long term exhaustion that can be experienced by anyone, but particularly those who are involved in stressful professions. It is almost considered an emotional exhaustion and reduced sense of personal accomplishment. This may include feelings of exhaustion, inefficacy and cynicism, and a lack of energy.  It is important to recognise burnout in clients, but also for the life coach to recognise burnout in themselves.

In life coaching, this is obviously not something that would be helpful to the coach or the client, but will hinder, and ultimately destroy the coaching process if left unchecked. A life coach needs to be able to help the client to change, by being positive and offering encouragement.  If they are not able to do this because they are burned out from helping others, then they will not really be supportive to their clients.  

Most life coaches really enjoy life coaching, but it can also be stressful. This constant stress without relief can leave a life coach feeling helpless and worn out.  When a person is burnt out, they may find their problems seem insurmountable.  This can threaten their life coaching practice, their relationships and their own health.  It is important to deal with burnout as soon as a coach recognises that they have it. The longer burnout is allowed to carry on, the harder it is to break away from the feelings of burnout.  

Besides affecting your life coaching practice, burnout can start to affect your own personal and social life.  It can make a coach vulnerable to illnesses such as colds, flu, and so on.  

Burnout can be due to stress, but it is not the same as feeling stressed. When we feel stressed, it is because we have too much to deal with.  People who are stressed often feel that if they get everything under control that they will feel better. Burnout is about not enough. The person may feel empty, lacking in motivation and beyond caring. They do not see any hope of positive change in their life. So they disengage from their situation and begin to feel detached and worthless.

If a coach recognises they have burnout, or a client is burnt out, they may follow strategies such as:

• Starting each day with relaxing rituals - rather than jumping out of bed straight into the day, they can try writing in a journal, doing gentle stretching exercises, reading a few pages of a book.
  
  
• Try to eat healthily - certain foods and additives or preservatives can build up     toxins in our bodies which may affect our daily performances and behaviours. Other substances such as caffeine have addictive properties which can cause psychological disturbances such as mood swings, as well as feelings of discomfort when levels are low in our bodies. Other foods obviously increase risks of diseases such as heart disease, ulcers, and diabetes.
  
  
• Exercise regularly - exercise not only stimulates our muscles and bodily systems, but it also encourages the brain to release endorphins which make us feel good.  A healthy body promotes a healthy mind. Make time to engage in a sporting activity - this gives you the opportunity to exercise and socialise at the same time.  
  
  
• Sleep well - between seven and eight hours sleep per day is regarded by health professionals to be paramount to optimal health.
  
  
• Set boundaries – a coach needs to be able to say “no” to requests on their time. As before, they need to set boundaries of when they are available to clients and also within their personal life. Take regular breaks in your daily work, take at least one day off per week, and take the occasional holiday.
  
  
• Take breaks from technology - you should set times when they completely disconnect from technology. This means no laptop, tablet, texting, mobile phone, phone calls, and emails.  Moving away from technology for brief periods can lead to more business, for instance you might think about a new service you wish to offer, or you might use the time to plan where you would like to go on holiday.
  
  
• Nourish your creative side – as well as allowing time for creativity, a way to avoid burnout is also to try something new, a fun project, a new hobby, things that have nothing to do with work.
  
  
• Learn how to manage stress – employ stress management techniques to reduce feelings of stress.
  
  

If you have any questions about the course, then our psychology tutors are more than happy to help. 

Please click here to contact a Psychology tutor.