Accredited Level 3 Diploma in Family Counselling

This Quality Assured, Level 3 Diploma in Family Counselling, is aimed at providing those with counselling experience and/or introductory qualifications, with a review of the fundamentals of counselling, while gaining specialist knowledge and application of counselling in family therapy.

The course will cover the five key perspectives of counselling skills that underpin the fundamental basis for all counselling. This theoretical foundation will form the basis for, exploring how strong families can be a source of support; care and protection. But, equally largely due to the development of new and variant typography; the family structure no longer seen as a ‘one model fits all’ as diversity now allows for: singleness and parenthood; same sex relationships and being parents and, the failure of parental relationships and the causal affect on childhood. At the other end of the age scale, elderly parents are frequently the norm in families, whereby caring and protection reverses the parent, child roles.

In the 21st century, the modern family is more prone to a greater impact of stresses upon the once tightly confined relationship, as ways are explored in ensuring good wholesome relationships are enabled and maintained. Therefore, the development of counselling skills that are used in ‘family therapy’ is changing. This course will explore these changes in the light of sometimes conflicting principles, theories and best practice; as relationship counselling continues to evolve.

The foundation of all good counselling practice begins with understanding the basic principles of theory; practices and case study models that provide that core of good skills any counsellor in this specialist area of family therapy seeks to maintain. Within this framework of theory and practice we will consider in the use of the following concepts: meta-communication, genograms, triangulation, open and closed systems, reframing, solution focused counselling, goal setting and reflective practice.

The Learning programme for the student, offers choice and scope in regards to the wider study of the specialist areas of counselling the bereaved person. The core aims of the diploma are to:

• Specifically offers student a theoretical academic approach to the study of this area of advanced counselling through a robust programme of learning that will enhance careers in the wider field of counselling settings in: child care; family dynamics; eldercare; spiritual/pastoral care and many other associated settings.
• The Diploma Family Counselling encourages students to: develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for, a rigorous study of their subject at a specialist level and explores the core framework that is currently family counselling theory and professional practice.
• To apply the subject as an academic discipline by developing knowledge, understanding and skills appropriate to a very specialist area of Counselling, adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to the study of family counselling.

• Students will have an opportunity to study aspects of Counselling theory and practice that is current and informs the foundation for family counselling.
• To undertake a broader study of the subject of family counselling through the selection of a variety of topics, although diverse, will complement each other. The following are examples: your enhanced role, as a family counsellor: understanding relationships; conflict; crisis counselling; emotional strategy; family wellbeing; family support networks and how the fundamental perspectives of counselling can be best applied in this specialist area of practice.
• Some prior knowledge and experience of Counselling is recommended, in working with the families. However, the opportunity is provided for candidates who have studied a social science subject at A Level (either as a Full or Short