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Overview
The Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling (PGDPC) is designed for individuals aspiring to be mental health professionals in Singapore. This Asian interdisciplinary programme is backed by evidence-based approaches and rigorous curriculum that is benchmarked against international standards.
The programme aims to nurture learners with psychological, psychotherapeutic, and counselling theories and techniques. It aims to empower learners with professional knowledge and skills to effectively conduct therapy, with the necessary sensitivity towards cultural nuances. Learners will also be able to apply their skills in diverse settings such as personal life, relationships, family, and workplace.
In addition, learners will grasp handling past, present and future issues, how to work with stress and anxiety, relationship issues, anger, and personal growth and development. The PGDPC will also empower learners to work with common challenges such as addictions, family and marital issues.
Learners will also be taught ethics in psychotherapy practice, covering areas such as standards of practice and client confidentiality. Apart from the counselling and psychotherapy theories and techniques, learners will explore the science of positive psychology and its applications to mental health and wellbeing.
Our learners will also be mentored by trained supervisors as they work with clients in the practicum.
Teacher-Student Ratio: 1:50
Careers
The PGDPC is committed to educating learners on varied disciplines of psychology and psychotherapy applications, as well as promoting specialised training for learners who are keen to practice counselling/ psychotherapy professionally and independently in Singapore.
Course Modules
The PGDPC programme features 12 modules, designed to develop learners’ skills and competencies so that they can apply their learnings to improve the mental health and wellbeing of others. Collectively, they provide PGDPC learners a strong foundation in various aspects of psychotherapy and counselling. The modules are listed below.
Foundational Modules
- PSY 03 Developmental Psychology* (Trainer: Bernice Lim)
- PSY 07 Family and Marital Counselling (Trainer: Laurence Ho)
- PSY 08 Group Counselling (Trainer: Laurence Ho)
- GPSY 01 Applications of Psychology (Trainer: Dr. Inderbir Kaur Sandhu/Dr. Lim Kok Kwang
- GPSY 02 Applied Positive Psychology (Trainer: Jana Dawson/Matthew Koh/Deborah Thurley
- GPSY 03 Introduction to Counselling, Psychotherapy and Coaching* (Trainer: Laurence Ho/Tan Ming Chin)
- GPSY 07 Psychotherapy Practice and Ethics* (Trainer: Gerald Boh/Tan Ming Chin)
- PGDPSY 07 Research Methods in Psychology (Trainer: Dr. Inderbir Kaur Sandhu)
- PGDPSY 08 Multicultural Counselling in Singapore* (Trainer: Padma Jairam)
- WSRM Wellbeing Strategies to Boost Resilience and Mental Health (Trainer: Allan Chia)
Core Modules
- PDPSY 01 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) (Trainer: Dr Tan Yeong Jong)
- PDPSY 02 Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) (Trainer: Laurence Ho)
Practicum in Psychotherapy and Counselling
A psychotherapy and counselling practicum is a requirement of the PGDPC curriculum. This will provide learners with real world experience, giving an edge to establishing a successful practice in the future.
The practicum requires 150 hours, which may last more than one semester. Learners will be supervised during the practicum. This supervision is essential for therapy work, to provide feedback for practising therapists as well as to establish good practice in psychotherapy and navigate potential ethical dilemmas that may occur during practice.
The entire practicum has to be logged to ensure the learner completes the required number of hours.
Practicum hours consist of:
- 100 client contact hours
- 20 hours individual supervision
- 30 hours of group supervision
Before embarking on the practicum, learners have to complete the following modules:
- PSY 03 Developmental Psychology or PGDPSY 08 Multicultural Counselling in Singapore
- GPSY 03 Introduction to Counselling, Psychotherapy and Coaching
- GPSY 07 Psychotherapy Practice and Ethics
- PDPSY 01 Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) or PDPSY 02 Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Learners will apply and practice CBT and/or SFBT approaches during the practicum. Additionally, they will learn how to draw upon resilience, positive psychology and other wellbeing techniques for self-care and for professional practice.
The school offers the following practicum sites; trainees can also source for alternate practicum sites subject to approval from the course director.
THRIVE PSYCHOLOGY CLINIC
COUNSELING PERSPECTIVE
SAFE SPACE™
*There is a practicum placement fee (between $1,500 to $2,000, subject to the placement site).
Specialism
Wellbeing Interventions
ADDITIONAL MODULES:
- GPSY 04 Mindfulness Psychology (Trainer: Deborah Thurley)
- GPSY 05 Resilience Training for Practitioners (Trainer: Tan Su-San)
- GPSY 09 Strengths Development (Trainer: Jana Dawson/Matthew Koh)
Children And Adolescents
ADDITIONAL MODULES:
- PSY 15 Childhood and Adolescent Disorders (Trainer: Gerald Boh)
- PSY 16 Special Needs Education (Trainer: Gerald Boh)
- PSY 17 Working with Children and Adolescents (Trainer: Gerald Boh)
Entry Requirement
- A Bachelor’s Degree, or
- Graduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling from The School of Positive Psychology, or
- Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling or Diploma in Child Psychology and Interventions from The School of Positive Psychology, or
- Mature candidates (30 years old and above) with a Diploma and minimum 8 years working experience*
English language requirement
- Pass in GCE ‘O’ Level English Language, or
- Pass in any GCE ‘A’ Level subject conducted in English, or
- IELTS 5.5, or
- TOEFL (Internet Based) 59, or
- Pearson PTE Academic 52
Application Requirements
- Completed application form
- Completed application statement
- 1 recent passport sized photo
- One photocopy of NRIC or Singapore valid pass
- Updated resume
- Educational certificates and academic transcripts
- Application fee: SGD 162 w/GST
Course Delivery
- Lectures and case studies discussions
- Role plays
- Practicum supervision
Course Duration
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling
- 12 months part-time
Course Structure
- 4 terms per year (2-3 modules per term)
Intakes
- January, April, July, October
Course Fee
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling | Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling (Wellbeing Interventions) | Postgraduate Diploma in Psychotherapy and Counselling (Children and Adolescents) |
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S$21, 783.60 w/GST | S$26,352.00 w/GST | S$25,833.60 w/GST |
Fees apply to all Singapore residents (Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents and all pass holders).