UNIVERSITY OF MAKENI
UNIMAK
CERTIFICATE IN COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY
COURSE DURATION: 6 MONTHS
START DATE:
COORDINATORS: Veronica R. Kamara, MSC
079020049/030295272
Rebecca Esliker, Ph.D, LPC
079707019
TRAINERS: REBECCA ESLIKER, Ph.D IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
FR. JOE TURAY, Ph.D IN SOCIAL SCIENCE
FR. FRANCIS S SESAY, Ph.D IN SOCIAL ETHICS
Course Description:
Counselling Psychology
PART ONE
1. Introduction to Psychology
- Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific state of mental processes and behaviour
- Psychology also refers to the application of such knowledge to various spheres of humanity, activity, including relating to individual’s daily lives and the treatment of mental illnesses.
- Commonly defined as the science of behaviour and mental processes.
2. Schools of Thoughts in Psychology
- Behaviour/biological
- Gestalt Psychology
- Psycho dynamic Psychology
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Social psychology
3. Theories of Psychology
- Behavioural Theories
- Cognitive Theories
- Developmental Theories
- Humanist Theories
- Personality Theories
- Social Psychology Theories
- Learning Theories
4. Branches in Psychology
- Abnormal psychology
- Behavioural Psychology
- Biopsychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Comparative Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Personality Psychology
- School Psychology
- Industrial/ Organizational Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Counselling Psychology
5. Counselling Psychology
- This field is one of the largest individual areas within psychology. It is centred on treating clients experiencing mental distress and a wide variety of psychological symptoms. The Society of Counselling Psychology describes the field as an area that can improve interpersonal functioning throughout life by improving social, and emotional health as well as addressing concerns about health, work, family, marriage, and more.
- Counselling psychology focuses on providing therapeutic treatments to clients who experience a wide variety of symptoms.
6. Cultural aspects in Psychology
- Cultural psychology is the study of how psychological and behavioural tendencies are rooted in and embodied in culture. The main tenet of cultural psychology is that mind and culture are inseparable and mutually constitutive, meaning that people are shaped by their culture and their culture is also shaped by them.
6. Assessing and Diagnosing
- Children
- Adolescents
- Adults
7. Evidence Based Treatments and other Options.
- Psychotherapy
- Medication Management
PART TWO
1. What is counselling?
- The importance of counselling
- The counsellor
- Professional Ethics
- Counselling Process
2. Different types of counselling.
- Individual
- Group
- Family
- Marriage
3. Values of counselling
- Accepting the Client
- Recognizing the therapeutic process
- Focusing on the client problem
4. Counselling skills and techniques
- Coping Strategies
- Mindfulness techniques
- Conflict Resolution/Problem Solving Skills
- Crisis Planning
- Relapse Preventives Methods.
5. Ethics
- Principle ethics codes of conduct
- - Inform consent
- Confidentiality
-Client Rights
PART THREE
PSYCHOSOCIAL
1. Definition of Mental Health
- Why should you be concerned about Mental illness
- Types of Mental illness
- Contributing factors to Mental Illnesses
- Culture and mental illness.
2. Mental health issues specific to Sierra Leone
- Definition of Mental Health in Sierra Leone
- Myths and common beliefs in the Sierra Leonean Culture
- Common triggers for Mental Health in this culture
- Traditional healers
- The importance of working with other collaborators
3. Substance Abuse and other Self-medicating strategies use for coping with presenting symptoms.
- Illegal drugs
- Witchcraft believes
- Traditional medicines
- Rituals
4. The Importance of collaborative efforts to psycho educate Sierra Leonean on the long-term care for affected loved ones with Mental Health.
End of Course: students will be required to present a research paper.