Course Fee: $459 (Canadian currency)
The aim of this course is to help practitioners to better understand how stress impacts individuals and to teach techniques and strategies for managing their stress. This includes cognitive-behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, conflict resolutions skills and the need to practise regular self care.
There is no prior knowledge or experience required to embark on this rewarding 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 this course.
Note: The Online Counselling College uses a person-centred approach, and emphasises Egan’s The Skilled Helper Model.
SYLLABUS
Module 1: An Introduction to Stress
Topics Studied
• Understanding stress
• Identifying when you are feeling stressed
• Uncovering the meaning attached to stressful thoughts
• Seven major sources of stress
• Stress, control and choice
• The biology of stress
• Stress and illness
• Stress management and health
• Roadblocks to confronting and managing stress
• Reflective skills practice
• 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 2: Stress and Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
Topics Studied
• The basic premises of CBT
• Differentiating between thoughts and beliefs
• Tracking the client’s automatic thoughts
• Common cognitive errors
• The Daily Record of Dysfunctional Thoughts (DRDT)
• Schemata or core beliefs
• The Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS)
• Some additional CBT techniques
• Additional techniques for quieting your mind
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline the basic premises of CBT
• Explain how to use a DRDT
• Describe the difference between automatic thoughts and core beliefs
Module 3: Stress and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Topics Studied
• The fundamental importance of self-compassion
• Self-compassion exercises for clients who are stressed
• Applying ACT
• The importance of self-validation
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Explain what is meant by “self-compassion”
• Describe action and commitment therapy
• Outline what is meant by psychological flexibility
Module 4: Stress and Mindfulness
Topics Studied
• The mind and stress
• Examining our mindless thinking
• The effect of mindless versus mindful thinking
• Some of the main benefits of mindfulness
• Are mindfulness and meditation the same?
• Getting in touch with your authentic self
• Some key components of mindfulness-based stress reduction
• How is mindfulness different from relaxation?
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline the effect of mindless thinking versus mindful thinking
• Summarise the key components of mindfulness-based stress reduction
• Explain how mindfulness is different from meditation
Module 5: Stress, Conflict and Conflict Resolution
Topics Studied
• What is conflict?
• The five main causes of conflict
• Some typical responses to dealing with a conflict
• Understanding five common conflict styles
• Essential conflict resolution skills
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Describe some typical responses to dealing with a conflict
• List five common conflict styles
• Summarise the key conflict resolution skills
Module 6: Stress and Self-Care
Topics Studied
• Practising self-care
• The importance of having personal goals
• Challenging our tendency to avoid
• The stories we tell ourselves
• Developing resilience
• Stress and supportive relationships
• An attitude of gratitude
• Eating, exercise and stress
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Suggest how we can challenge the tendency to “avoid”
• Outline ways of developing resilience.
• Describe the value of gratitude
Suggested textbook for the course (to be purchased by the student)
Everly, G.S., & Lating, J.M. (2019). A clinical guide to the treatment of the human stress response. (4th Ed.). New York, NY: Springer.