Course Fee: $459 (Canadian currency)
This relevant and stimulating course will expand your understanding of psychological disorders. It provides information on the symptoms, causes and treatment options of the main categories in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR).
Specifically, this course will explore the following: mental health and mental illness, stress and post traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, somatoform disorder, dissociative disorders, personality disorders, autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders and substance related disorders.
There is no prior knowledge or experience required to embark on this certificate course. You are free to commence at a time that suits your schedule – and continue at your pace for a period of six months. Full tutor support is provided for the course.
Note: The Online Counselling College teaches and uses Egan’s The Skilled Helper Model.
SYLLABUS
Module 1: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Topics Studied
• The key components of abnormal behaviour
• The role of paradigms
• An integrationist perspective
• What role does culture play?
• Diagnosis and classification
• Criticisms of classification
• Exploring the therapeutic relationship
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline the value and use of paradigms when categorising normal and abnormal behaviour.
• Summarise the diathesis-stress and biopsychosocial paradigms.
• Describe the diagnosis and classification process.
Module 2: Stress Disorders and Health Psychology
Topics Studied
• Understanding stress
• The biology of stress
• Seven major sources of stress
• The relationship between stress, control and choice
• The relationship between stress and illness
• Stress management and health
• Reducing stress levels by challenging our thinking
• Reviewing basic counselling skills
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• List seven major sources of stress.
• Describe the biology of stress.
• Critique the relationship between stress and illness.
Module 3: Anxiety Disorders
Topics Studied
• Phobias
• Panic disorder
• Generalised anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Acute stress disorder
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Discuss generalised anxiety disorder.
• Describe obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Distinguish between post traumatic stress disorder and acute stress disorder.
Module 4: Mood Disorders, Schizophrenia, Somatoform and Dissociative Disorders
Topics Studied
• Mood disorders
• Major depressive disorder
• Bipolar depression
• Depression and cognitive behaviour therapy
• Schizophrenia
• Somatoform disorders
• Dissociative disorders
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Describe mood disorders.
• Discuss schizophrenia.
• Compare and contrast somatoform disorders and dissociative disorders
Module 5: Personality Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Topics Studied
• Paranoid personality disorder
• Schizoid personality disorder
• Schizotypal personality disorder
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Histrionic personality disorder
• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Avoidant personality disorder
• Dependent personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
• Autism spectrum disorders
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Identify the different personality disorders.
• Discuss the characteristics and traits associated with the different personality disorders.
• Appraise autism spectrum disorders.
Module 6: Eating Disorders and Substance Related Disorders
Topics Studied
• What is a food addiction?
• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Binge eating disorder
• Alcohol and alcoholism
• The Addict, the family, and co-dependency
• Diagnosing an addiction
• Drug addiction
• Prescription drug addiction and abuse
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Discuss anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
• Connect alcohol and drug addiction.
• Clarify the defining features of addictions.
Suggested textbook for the course (to be purchased by the student)
Kring, A.M., & Johnson, S.L. (2021). Abnormal psychology: The science and treatment of psychological disorders. (15th Ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.