Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Challenge yourself to change lives…
The Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy is your pathway to an exciting career as an entry level counsellor. In this higher education diploma, you will study major theoretical perspectives both within psychotherapy and counselling traditions, and outside these traditions you will engage with relevant scientific, philosophical and spiritual disciplines.
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualification Framework.
CRICOS Code: 097946C
Australian Qualification Framework: Level 5
Download Course Brochure
Attend Open Day
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Diploma Of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Challenge yourself to change lives…
The Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy is your pathway to an exciting career as an early counsellor or psychotherapist. In this higher education diploma, you will study the nature of the human mind from a variety of disciplinary perspectives both within psychotherapy and counselling traditions, and outside these traditions through engagements with relevant scientific, philosophical and spiritual disciplines.
The Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy will prepare you to be a skilled, and transformative counsellor or psychotherapist.
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualification Framework.
CRICOS Code: 097946C
Australian Qualification Framework: Level 5
Download Course Brochure
Attend Open Day
Ready To Apply?
Key Information
Award
Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy
Duration
1 Year Full Time (or Part Time Equivalent)
Intakes
February, May, September
Study Modes
On Campus, Distance Learning
Locations
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney
Course Fees
Domestic (FEE-HELP available)
International
Trimester 1 Applications Close
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Course Overview
The Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy is your pathway to an exciting career as an entry-level counsellor. In this higher education diploma, you will study major theoretical perspectives both within psychotherapy and counselling traditions, and outside these traditions, you will engage with relevant scientific, philosophical and spiritual disciplines.
Through the course you will develop the core skills fundamental to counselling and psychotherapy. You will learn how to engage in ethical, culturally sensitive and collaborative practices to plan early intervention programs with respect to client goals and the diversity of individuals. As part of the course, you will also engage in one clinical placement experience that will enrich and consolidate your classroom learning.
This qualification is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework.
This qualification is FEE-HELP approved for eligible applicants.
Life-altering careers.
Course Outcomes
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of major theoretical perspectives and concepts, and integrate and apply in a broad range of counselling and psychotherapeutic contexts.
- Demonstrate an understanding of ethical issues, cultural and social diversity, and professional responsibility in the context of safe, ethical and reflective practice.
- Establish respectful, ethical and collaborative relationships to work with others, and communicate clear and coherent information to express ideas and perspectives to support case management.
- Demonstrate empathy, mirroring, attunement and therapeutic presence in working with clients.
- Engage in ethical, culturally sensitive and collaborative practices to plan, design and evaluate counselling modalities and early intervention programs with respect for the diversity of individuals.
- Identify, analyse and synthesise information from a variety of sources, and use initiative and judgement to construct a case conceptualisation.
- Demonstrate self-awareness, self-motivation and personal responsibility for their learning, work and emerging professional skills.
Studying Counselling and Psychotherapy at Ikon…
Unique approaches to therapy
Our students are given the opportunity to study various styles of therapy which form part of an integrative approach. Students can choose electives in ecopsychology, voice and sound therapy, Jungian sandplay and symbol work, Eastern-Western psychotherapy, and dreams and symbols.
Awaken your curious mind
Our counselling and psychotherapy courses will challenge and open your mind. It is as much about a journey in self-discovery as it is about equipping you with the abilities to transform the lives of others. We believe in a holistic approach, daring the intellect, whilst nurturing the body and spirit.
To really look deep within, we like to get away
Our industry-leading courses take a progressive approach to learning, incorporating the latest in global education and cultural trends. The global shift towards total wellbeing and the power of connectedness, is why we offer retreat electives and include things like meditation and music within our program to open minds to new ways of thinking.
Career Opportunities
The Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy prepares graduates for an exciting career as an entry-level counsellor, case manager, intake counsellor, welfare counsellor, program coordinator, disability support worker or counsellor support worker.
Course Structure
Study Sequence
Students are required to successfully complete 8 subjects (48 credit points) to be eligible for the award of Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy. The course structure includes one placement experience.
Each academic year consists of three study periods called trimesters. Each trimester consists of eleven weeks of teaching plus one exam week.
A full-time study load is typically 8 subjects per year.
A part-time study load is typically 4 subjects per year.
Delivery & Workload
Course delivery is a combination of lectures, skills development activities, group work, self-directed study and workplace learning.
You should allow for approximately 3 hours per subject for lectures and tutorials. For each subject, you should then spend approximately 10 hours per week for self-directed study to complete prescribed readings, practice skills, research, study and additional time to complete assessments.
Interested in studying this course online? Click here to learn more about our distance learning options.
Subjects
Integrative Psychotherapy Theory
This subject is the first in a developmental sequence of study underpinning knowledge and core skills in counselling and therapeutic practice. The theoretical underpinnings of the subject are sourced in the extensive literature on person-centred and experiential psychotherapy, Eastern and Indigenous practices and psychodynamic interpersonal therapy originating in the work of Carl Rogers, Eugene Gendlin and significant humanistic-existential and psychodynamic theorists and practitioners.
Credit Points: 6
Co-Requisites: Integrative Psychotherapy Practice
Integrative Psychotherapy Practice
This subject is the second in the developmental sequence of study underpinning knowledge and core skills of counselling and therapeutic practice. The central activity of this subject is the students’ experiential practice of therapeutic skills in one-to-one therapeutic interactions with peers where students will share and work with their own ‘lived experience’ in sessions. Students are given the opportunity to apply interventions and processes to build and strengthen the therapeutic relationship, unpack the client’s difficulties and help the client to access and explore inner experience. Students will engage in reflection on their practice of micro-skills.
Credit Points: 6
Co-Requisites: Integrative Psychotherapy Theory
Contemporary Models of Practice
In this subject, students will develop an understanding of the main theoretical perspectives and models that inform therapeutic practice and facilitate therapeutic change, including psychodynamic; humanistic-existential; experiential – emotion-focused therapy; cognitive behavioural and third-wave CBT; transpersonal and soul centred, constructivist; and integrative schools. Students will examine the change mechanisms common across all therapeutic models and those particular to each model. The models studied are contextualised within an integrative conceptualisation framework, and students will have the opportunity to integrate theory into practice using case scenarios.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Ethics and Psychotherapy Practice
This subject is designed to develop the student’s awareness and understanding of ethical and legal issues critical to counselling and psychotherapy practice. Students will learn about ethical principles and frameworks that can inform behaviour and decision-making, including relevant legislation, professional practice standards and codes of ethics within the Australian professional landscape. Students will examine scenarios to identify ethical and legal issues and propose solutions to dilemmas common in therapeutic practice, including those relating to mandatory reporting, dual relationships, professional boundaries and power dimensions. Students will also explore how their personal values may influence their behaviour, decision-making and developing professional identity.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Mental Health in Crisis Management
In this subject, students will gain an overview of the Australian mental health system and examine the role of the active participants therein, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and others. Students will explore the varied experiences of consumers utilising mental health services in Australia and identify the current strengths and weaknesses of that system. Students will learn about how the conceptions of normal and abnormal behaviour have developed historically, with a focus on the emergence of systems of diagnosis, their justifications, and criticisms. Students will learn to identify important terms and major categories of the current classification systems in psychopathology. They will also examine the changing role of psychopharmacology within the Australian mental health system.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Case Conceptualisation
The case conceptualisation process encourages the therapist to think about the client in an in-depth way. In this subject, students will learn to present a clear theoretical understanding of the client’s situation, background, difficulties, patterns, and pain from within a variety of theoretical lenses and through the integrative lens. They will learn to form hypotheses about why the client presents to therapy in the way that they do and what ‘needs’ the client holds, and formulate treatment plans to facilitate change. Students are required to bring their own client data to class and for assessment tasks, gained during placement or from peer practice.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: Models of Therapeutic Practice
Embracing Culture, Diversity and Inclusion
As therapists, there are ethical underpinnings to individual world views which often create prejudices and biases which are socialised and are on the whole, unconscious. This subject will equip students with the knowledge, skills and awareness to engage in ethical and culturally sensitive therapeutic practices. Engaging in a pedagogy centred on culture and diversity, independence, autonomy and philosophy, students will examine the versatility of embedded identities and their influence on beliefs, values and biases, both positive and negative. Students will develop cross-cultural skills important to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities, and how to approach their therapeutic needs and healing.
Credit Points: 6
Pre-Requisites: None
Supervised Practice A
This subject is the first of two professional experience subjects designed to draw together coursework in a supervised work-based setting. Students will have their first opportunity to apply theoretical and reflective learning to counselling and psychotherapy practice as they undertake 120 placement hours at a host organisation. This placement has a focus on building therapeutic relationships, ethical and culturally sensitive practices, and working as part of a team. Students will participate in weekly group supervision and engage in case discussions and reflective review with their clinical teacher and peers as they explore their developing counselling and psychotherapy practice.
Credit Points: 6
Hours: 120
Pre-Requisites: None
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Recognition of Prior Learning is an assessment process used to determine the extent to which a student has achieved the learning outcomes of a subject from earlier learning, experience or achievements. Where equivalence of prior learning can be established, the student may be exempt from attending that particular subject in order to complete their course.
You may apply for course credit towards the Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy in recognition of prior learning which may result in course credit and exemption from that subject. If you would like to apply for Credit Transfer or Recognition of Prior Learning please contact us admissions@ikon.edu.au (domestic students), or international@eduholdings.com.au (international students).
Credit Pathways
Graduates of the higher education Diploma of Counselling and Psychotherapy through Ikon Institute of Australia may gain entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Eligible applicants will receive course credit via the grade of Advanced Standing.
Admission Criteria
Ikon has a range of admission pathways available to students of all circumstances and academic backgrounds. You should choose the admission pathway most relevant to your academic background.
Domestic Students
Our admission pathway options include:
- Applicants with Recent Senior Secondary Education (within the past two years) must have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12) or equivalent. For guaranteed entry applicants must have achieved an ATAR of 65.
- Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study must have completed a vocational qualification at Diploma level or higher.
- Applicants with Work/Life experience who left senior secondary education more than two years prior to their application, and have not undertaken VET or HE study since, may gain entry based on professional or work experience and/or any non- formal courses undertaken in preparation for tertiary study or that are relevant to the subject area. Work/Life experience applicants must submit a written admission statement outlining their reasons for undertaking the intended course of study. For more information about writing your admissions statement click here.
All applicants must complete the Learner Questionnaire within the Application Form and demonstrate they have the inherent qualities and motivations to be successful in the course. Applicants may be required to participate in an informal interview with an Ikon representative.
To discuss the best pathway for your circumstances, please contact us at 1300 000 933 or admissions@ikon.edu.au
For more information see:
Application Process
Domestic Student Admission Policy
Student Profile Table
International Students
International applicants must have an English Language Proficiency Score of IELTS 6.5 (Academic) with Speaking no less than 6.5; Listening, Writing and Reading no less than 6.0, or equivalent.
Our admission pathway options include:
- Applicants with Recent Senior Secondary Education (within the past two years) must have completed an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (Year 12). For guaranteed entry applicants must have achieved an ATAR of 65 (or equivalent).
- Applicants with Vocational Education and Training (VET) study must have completed a vocational qualification at Diploma level or higher.
- Applicants with Work/Life experience who left senior secondary education more than two years prior to their application, and have not undertaken VET or HE study since, may gain entry based on professional or work experience and/or any non- formal courses undertaken in preparation for tertiary study or that are relevant to the subject area. Work/Life experience applicants must submit a written admission statement outlining their reasons for undertaking the intended course of study. For more information about writing your admissions statement click here.
All applicants must complete the Learner Questionnaire within the Application Form and demonstrate they have the inherent qualities and motivations to be successful in the course. Applicants may be required to participate in an informal interview with an Ikon representative.
To discuss the best pathway for your circumstances, please contact us at international@eduholdings.com.au
For more information see:
Application Process
International Student Admission Policy
Student Profile Table
Admission Criteria
Ikon has a range of admission pathways available to students of all circumstances and academic backgrounds. You should choose the admission pathway most relevant to your academic background. Our admissions pathways include:
- Australian Year 12 Secondary School Certificate with a minimum ATAR 65
- Completion of a VET qualification at Diploma level or higher
- Completion (or partial completion) of a higher education qualification
- Applicants may also gain entry in recognition of their work and life experience. Work/Life experience applicants must submit a written admission statement outlining their reasons for undertaking the intended course of study. For more information about writing your admissions statement click here.
International applicants, and any applicants who did not complete their previous study in English, must evidence a minimum IELTS Overall Score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5.
All applicants must complete the Learner Questionnaire within the Application Form and demonstrate they have the inherent qualities and motivations to be successful in the course, and may be required to participate in an informal interview with an Ikon representative.
To discuss the best pathway for your circumstances, please contact us at:
admissions@ikon.edu.au (for domestic students) international@eduholdings.com.au (for international students).
For more information see:
Application Process
Domestic Student Admission Policy
International Student Admission Policy
Student Profile Table