Overview
Do you have a background in counselling or psychology and a level 3 counselling qualification? Would you like to gain the practical knowledge and interpersonal skills you need to pursue a career as a Gestalt counsellor?
Gestalt counselling (from the German for 'whole' or 'pattern') is a holistic, humanistic approach to helping individuals understand themselves, their motivations and their surroundings as a whole. Gestalt practitioners help to find new perspectives to problems to bring about positive changes in peoples lives.
On this Gestalt Counselling DipHE, you'll learn how to help people reflect on their current thoughts, feelings and behaviours so they can better understand their current situation. This can help them deal with relationship problems and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and stress.
If you're in employment, this course can fit around your working week, with timetabled teaching taking place 1 day a week, workshops on 6 Saturdays throughout the course, and occasional events in the evenings and at weekends.
When you complete the course, you could top up your diploma to a Bachelor's degree. You could also work as a Gestalt counsellor in areas such as education, the police service, the prison service and the voluntary sector.
Course Highlights
- Study modules that give you a strong foundation for your studies and future career, covering topics including counselling theory and skills, gestalt theory and skills, mental health issues, and counselling specific groups
- Learn from experienced, industry-trained staff who've worked in organisations or run their own private practices
- Apply your knowledge and skills with at least 100 hours of supervised counselling on a placement in the community
- Study at South Hampshire College Group - Eastleigh Campus with access to support and services at the University of Portsmouth
- Apply for student membership of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and get access to member resources including journal subscriptions, free courses and job boards while you study
Careers and opportunities
Gestalt counselling is a tool for helping people deal with difficulties including anxiety, depression, stress, self-confidence issues, bereavement, relationship difficulties or family problems.
Increased awareness in society about mental health and events such as the coronavirus pandemic have increased the demand for counselling and therapy services. As a counsellor, you can have a significant positive impact on people's health and wellbeing, and help take the pressure off other health services such as GPs and hospitals.
Public, private and charity sector settings you could work in after the course include:
- Education
- Alcohol and drug services
- Eating disorder services
- Mental health services
- GPs
- Police and prison services
You could also top-up your diploma to a Bachelor's degree on our BSc (Hons) Gestalt Counselling top-up course.
When you complete the course successfully, you can sit the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Certificate of Proficiency to become a registered member of the BACP.
