Level 3 Diploma in Debt Counselling

Level 3 Diploma in Debt Counselling

Course Synopsis
This Quality Assured Level 3 Diploma course is designed to follow on from, and compliment the basic or introductory counselling course. Reappraisal of basic counselling skills and core knowledge will be covered, together with a detailed examination of the five approaches or theories of counselling.

This course concentrates on the assessment and analysis of psychosocial factors relating to debt, together with how the challenges of therapy can be met. The course will specifically address the processes of the debt spiral and particular issues such as credit card debt, IVAs and bankruptcy, together with how these can be explored as both metaphorical problems and as causations themselves.

Specific attention will be given to psychodynamic, cognitive behavioural and person-centred approaches, which will give students a fuller working knowledge and understanding of advanced counselling skills. Each module will include a section on how it specifically relates to debt counselling, and there will be reflective activities for personal evaluation. In specialist counselling fields, these advanced skills are necessary in order to be able to recognise and deal with the complex range of client needs, together with being able to understand the origins of these particular emotions and possible physiological factors.

The course consists of 10 modules, each with an assignment to complete, a thesis and concludes with an online examination.

Module 1: Introduction to the concept of debt and reappraisal of counselling skills
This module looks at the definition of debt and 'debting'; activities include self-reflection and evaluation. It also looks in detail at the five theories which have been adopted as approaches in counselling. The work of Freud, Rogers, Skinner, Ellis, Jung and Eagan will be looked at in brief, and the corresponding counselling approaches examined.

Module 2: The psychodynamic approach relevant to debt counselling
This module will look at how the psychodynamic approach works and is applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach, and how it relates to debt counselling.

Module 3: The cognitive behavioural approach relevant to debt counselling
This module will look at how the behavioural approach works and is applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Module 4: The person-centred approach relevant to debt counselling
This module will look at how the person centred approach works and is applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach. Areas of application where underlying problems and situations are present will be discussed.

Module 5: Client-counsellor relationships in debt counselling
This module will discuss ethical guidelines, boundaries or limitations and will look at how to recognise and deal with these. In addition the importance of relationship building will be examined. Self-evaluation activities will be included in this module.

Module 6: What is debt? Part 1
This module looks at the concepts, assumptions and preconceptions surrounding debt. In addition, the nature of 'debting' is explored, for example compulsion, and the process of how individuals find themselves with serious debt problems is examined.

Module 7: What is debt? Part 2
This module looks at money and the individual, together with contributing factors in the 'debting' process, such as upbringing, dependents, career and personal expectations. In addition the module addresses the signs of underlying issues which may expose the debt problem as a metaphor.

Module 8: Concepts of change
This module is about how individuals face their problem, stop the negative spiral and effect change through counselling programmes.

Module 9: Achieving aims and goals in debt counselling
This looks at setting goals, giving support, maintenance strategies and achievement. The module also examines how counselling can contribute to positive client motivation and facilitate behaviour changes.

Module 10: Looking at specific debts such as credit cards
Credit card debt is one of the most significant contributing factors to debt problems in modern society; therefore this module examines underlying and contributory factors, together with effective control strategies and mechanisms. In addition, this module will discuss IVAs and bankruptcy agreements and what these processes mean in terms of psychological wellbeing.