Why Counselling and Why Now?

The need for counsellors in Australia has never been greater. Increasing societal pressures and eroding values have created a massive need in our communities for qualified counsellors.

This need is evidenced by a recent Australian Labour Force Survey indicating the Counselling profession has outgrown All Other Occupations by more than 200%.

And the industry employing counsellors, the Community Services and Health Sector, is predicted to be the fastest growth industry over the next 5 years.

As you can see, the demand for counsellors is high, and growing. And it's this demand that's creating significant opportunities in this rewarding field.

As a qualified counsellor, there are numerous opportunities for you in the Community Services and Health fields, whether it be as an employee or in private practice. You can make a real difference in many areas including grief and loss; relationships; with families, children or adolescents; stress; or trauma recovery. The demand for your help is very real.

We've helped people from all backgrounds become counsellors.

Whether you're currently working, may not have studied in a while, or have other commitments in your life, the external delivery method of our course ensures you have the best opportunity to study counselling.

Many of our students are changing their career to become a counsellor. Some, such as teachers, nurses or ministers of religion, are seeking to acquire counselling skills as an adjunct to their core profession. Even those students who may not have studied for many years find our course materials easy to follow as they have been designed specially for external delivery.

Our students and graduates all share the same strong desire to assist others. Maybe you are someone that people turn to for help in times of need; someone that displays a natural empathy to others. Or maybe you've been through personal challenges that have inspired you to assist others facing similar circumstances.

Whatever your background, you too can become a qualified counsellor with the Institute, help other people, and start an exciting and highly rewarding career!

Michelle has come to counselling due to increasing feelings of hopelessness about the direction of her life. She is complaining that she is too "bogged down" in her problems to see where she should be going. This is Michelle's second session with the Counsellor.

She has spent her previous session discussing the areas of her life that she is unhappy with. Within this session, the Counsellor decides to trial a solution-focussed approach with Michelle. The Counsellor hopes to move Michelle onto discussing ways she can overcome the problems that she has described by focussing more on solutions rather than problem descriptions.

PS more case studies, and articles, are available from the AIPC Online Article Library at www.aipc.net.au/articles.

Many students of the Diploma of Professional Counselling attend seminars to complete the practical requirements of their course. Seminars provide an ideal opportunity to network with other students and liaise with qualified counselling professionals in conjunction with completing compulsory coursework.

Below are seminars available between August and September 2008.

To register for a seminar, please contact your Student Support Centre.

BRISBANE

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 09/08/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 20/09/2008

The Counselling Process - 23/08/2008

Counselling Therapies II/SEMINAR D - 16 & 17/08/2008

SUNSHINE COAST

The Counselling Process - 30/08/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 20 & 21/09/2008

GOLD COAST

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 30/08/2008

The Counselling Process - 27/09/2008

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 23/08/2008

The Counselling Process - 27/09/2008

TASMANIA

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 17/08/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 21/09/2008

Counselling Applications/SEMINAR F - 10/08/2008

SYDNEY

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 23/08/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 25/08/2008, 02/09/2008

The Counselling Process - 30/08/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 05 & 06/09/2008

Counselling Therapies II/SEMINAR D - 24 & 25/09/2008

Case Management/Seminar E - 28 & 29/08/2008

MELBOURNE

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 16/08/2008, 13/09/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 17/08/2008, 14/09/2008

The Counselling Process - 24/08/2008, 27/09/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 28 & 29/08/2008, 30 & 31/09/2008

Counselling Therapies II/SEMINAR D - 06 & 07/09/2008

Case Management/Seminar E - 09 & 10/08/2008, 20 & 21/09/2008

Counselling Applications/SEMINAR F - 23/08/2008, 28/09/2008

REGIONAL NEW SOUTH WALES

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 23/08/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 25/08/2008, 02/09/2008

The Counselling Process - 30/07/2008, 30/08/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 05 & 06/09/2008

Counselling Therapies II/SEMINAR D - 24 & 25/09/2008

Case Management/Seminar E - 28 & 29/08/2008

ADELAIDE

The Counselling Process - 06/09/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 16 & 17/08/2008

Counselling Therapies II/SEMINAR D - 13 & 14/09/2008

PERTH

Communication Skills I/SEMINAR A - 06/09/2008

Communication Skills II/SEMINAR B - 07/09/2008

Counselling Therapies I/SEMINAR C - 13 & 14/09/2008

Counselling Therapies II/SEMINAR D - 16 & 17/08/2008