Gilead School of Counselling

The Gilead School of Counselling was founded in 1995 to train and equip counsellors and those in caring professions. CPT is convinced that one of the greatest needs in counselling and pastoral work is the establishment of professional standards for treatment. CPT addresses this ongoing concern for quality training through the Gilead School of Counselling Certificate and Diploma courses. Learning and skills acquisition for counsellors requires a learning environment which mirrors and models the safety of a therapeutic relationship and through personal development, trainees and students explore their own spiritual and moral values as these impact on their use of counselling skills.

• The Gilead Certificate in Pastoral Counselling is a Level 1 (introductory level course) moving beyond the support or encouragement, offered to those in need, by providing active and effective therapy that brings together understanding of the personality with human experience.
• The Gilead Higher Diploma is accredited by AQA at Level 5, the highest level of professional counsellor training leading to professional accreditation by national counselling bodies (BACP, UKCP).
• The Gilead Advanced Certificate in Counselling is accredited by AQA at Level 3 and provides professional training in counselling theory, skills, and self-awareness.

Both courses subscribe to the BACP Code of Ethics.

Gilead School's aim is that students develop an understanding of emotional experience, which not only enables them to attune to clients, and assist clients to have the change they desire in the therapeutic setting. Our training takes place in small groups with significant interaction with trainers, to facilitate the process of learning. We provide an opportunity for students to use and apply theory in individual and group settings with clients.

» For more information about the Gilead Advanced Certificate or Higher Diploma Course contact us on 0207 384 9212.

The Gilead Advanced Certificate

This intermediate level course is designed to further equip counsellors with a comprehensive ability in both Counselling Skills and Theory. The ethical dimension of counselling underpins all teaching and a philosophy of equal opportunities is stressed throughout.

This course is for people who already use counselling skills in the course of their work, either paid or voluntary, or who wish to acquire these skills to develop their work potential. This course enables people to practice counselling skills in a variety of settings.

The principle aims of the Advanced Certificate course are:

• To equip students with the capacity to work competently, ethically and professionally with clients under supervision
• To understand the major theoretical traditions and the way in which psychological knowledge informs clinical practice, particularly with regard to the beginning, middle and ending phases of counselling/psychotherapy
• For students to further develop critical thinking about their own beliefs, assumptions and value systems and how these influence the therapeutic relationship
• Students completing Advanced Certificate Course will be fully prepared to work professionally with clients in group or individually under clinical supervision

Selection criteria and application:

• Candidates should usually 25 years of age. or over at the time of application
• Candidates should be engaged in work or planning to be engaged in work (either paid or voluntary) which requires the use of counselling skills
• Qualification at Level 1 (Certificate in Pastoral Counselling or equivalent) is required
• Candidates should be personally suitable to engage in and benefit from the training

Qualification:

• For the award of the certificate, demonstration of a level of competence in counselling skills and theory is required, as well as participation in all role plays and class exercises with an expected 85% or higher attendance at all training days.

The Gilead Higher Diploma

This is a unitized Level 5 programme which requires all six units to be passed in order for the student to qualify for the award of the Higher Diploma. The six units are:

1. Counselling Theory
2. Developing Higher Counselling Skills Counselling Practice
3. Counselling Practice
4. Counselling in Context
5. Counselling Supervision and Principles of Continuing Professional Development
6. Synoptic Assessment in Counselling Practice

Prior training to at least Gilead Advanced Certificate level, or equivalent Level 3 course, is required for entry. The development of extensive knowledge and understanding of theoretical frameworks that support and inform work with clients is an essential aspect of training as a counsellor.

For the Gilead Higher Diploma Course, students are required to work towards mastery of their main core theoretical approach and relate this approach to their use of skills, evaluation of effectiveness (research), supervision, and continued professional development. Students are introduced to and given opportunities to study complex counselling throughout the course and to develop appropriate skills and techniques needed to work at this level.

Certificate in Pastoral Counselling

Pastoral counselling moves beyond the support or encouragement, offered to those in need, by providing active and effective therapy that brings together understanding of the personality with human experience. Counselling skills are a vital component of pastoral work.

What the Certificate Pastoral Course offers:

Understanding of Psychological Theory, Listening, Reflecting, Empathy, Self-Awareness and an introduction to:-

• Strategies in psychosocial/spiritual assessment and referral
• Measurement in mental health and clinical diagnosis
• Facilitating change, process and intervention
• Theoretical models and application to pastoral counselling
• Theories of Personality, and what we each bring to the counselling relationship
• Counselling skills for different contexts: family, Individuals, couples, groups
• Working with addiction, and effect of crisis and trauma on the personality
Pastoral Care covers the interface between religious beliefs and care work and may involve wearing several different hats. Counselling skills are a vital component of such work, which may be voluntary or paid and include hospital and prison visits, working with the bereaved as well as providing support and care. People from many spiritual backgrounds are involved in such work.

Selection criteria and application:

• Candidates should usually 25 years of age. or over at the time of application
• Candidates should be engaged in work or planning to be engaged in work (either paid or voluntary) which requires the use of counselling skills
• No formal prior qualifications are required. There are required reading and written assignments during the course of the training
• Candidates should be personally suitable to engage in and benefit from the training

Qualification:

• For the award of the certificate, participation in all role plays and class exercises and an attendance of 85% or higher is required at all training days.

More Information:

• For more information please download this PDF document .