Counselling & Psychotherapy - Cognitive Behavioural Modalities

Overview

Looking to develop your career as a CBT specialist? This is an ICHAS course delivered at Griffith College by ICHAS.



This programme helps practitioners and graduates enhance their professional competence in counselling and psychotherapy through advanced study, professional placement, and research. It fosters personal and professional growth, collaborative problem-solving skills, and evidence-based practice.



Why Study a Master's in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioural Modalities)?

This programme addresses the needs of practitioners and graduates who wish to develop their professional competence in counselling and psychotherapy, with a particular focus on cognitive behavioural approaches.



The overall aims of the MA in Counselling and Psychotherapy (Cognitive Behavioural Modalities) are to:

• Successful completion of the programme provides learners with a QQI-awarded Master's qualification in Cognitive Behavioural Modalities of Counselling and Psychotherapy.



• Provides a modularised and scaffolded developmental structure across the study duration, designed to contribute to the requirements of relevant Professional Associations for professional Accreditation.



• Meets the requirement of professional accreditation with the Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists (APCP) and the National Association for Professional Counselling & Psychotherapy



• This programme has been mapped against the training standards for Psychotherapy issued by the European Association of Psychotherapy (EAP).



• This programme is congruent to provide accessible and flexible programmes to adult learners. It has been designed with particular emphasis on using blended learning technologies to support traditional classroom learning.



• This programme supports learners to develop personally & professionally to enable them to achieve a Master's Degree in Counselling & Psychotherapy focusing on Cognitive Behavioural Modalities.



• Develop learner's knowledge, skills & competence to an appropriate level of ‘Higher Order Practice’



• Modules within the programme are designed to build personal capacity, collaborative problem-solving skills and an understanding of the systems and context within which individuals may be best supported.



• The programme provides a progression opportunity to complete various Programmes at Level 10 nationally and internationally.



Practicum Module:

Learners must undertake work-based learning requiring 200 hours of Client Work in a counselling or psychotherapy setting. This allows learners to apply the theoretical and practical aspects of the programme, working therapeutically with clients in a clinical setting and developing transferable, adaptable, appropriate therapeutic and active listening skills under appropriate clinical supervisory arrangements. Students are required to undertake Clinical Supervision during their placement



The placement will also enhance the development of your professional disposition to work confidently and independently in various settings. Some of the placement providers that we work closely with are Aiseiri Treatment Centres (Nationwide), MyMind (Nationwide), Let’s Get Talking (Galway, Shannon, Dublin, Wexford), Cuan Mhuire, Jigsaw, SOSAD, Haven Hub (Limerick, Clare), and various youth-focused and childhood-based settings.



Knowing Self Module:

Learners will undertake 50 hours of Personal Psychotherapeutic experience as part of the Knowing Self module.

Modules:

Theories of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Research Methodologies & Design

Skills & competencies in Cognitive Behavioural Modalities

CBT Modalities & Therapeutic Group Work

Understanding Psychopathology

Knowing Self

Applications of Contemporary Cognitive Behavioural Approaches

Practicum

Dissertation

• This programme is designed for graduates in health and human sciences and in particular graduates of Counselling related programmes as well as, nursing, social care, social work, psychology and programmes in cognate areas who wish to expand their knowledge and understanding of the human condition.



• The knowledge, skills and competence required to successfully participate in and complete this Level 9 Programme.



• Applicants will normally have successfully achieved a Level 2:2 award in a relevant Human Science Level 8 degree.



• Those who have completed other relevant education programmes or have relevant professional experience, etc., where Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and Acquired Prior Learning (APL) can be applied to the programme by submission of programme content, qualification, and assignments equivalent to an appropriate Level 8 award at an Honours 2:2 standard can also be considered.



• All applicants undertake a selection interview to support applicants to make an informed decision regarding their choice of programme and to ensure suitability.



• Successful applicants would be required to complete Garda Vetting at the College.



• If English is not your native language, you must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirement. The minimum English language proficiency requirement for this programme is B2+ in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is equivalent to an IELTS score of 6.5.



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL):

The College is committed to the recognition of prior learning attained both formally and informally. It may be recognised either to facilitate access to a higher education programme or to allow an award of credit as in the case of allowing exemption from a module.



It is the responsibility of the learner to make a formal written application to the College requesting an exemption and supplying all appropriate supporting evidence, i.e. transcript of results and module descriptor/syllabus including intended learning outcomes. Recognised prior learning is assessed on a case-by-case basis with an emphasis on academic and clinical experience.

Applications for this course are submitted through the ICHAS website. When you click on "Application Weblink" above, you will be directed to ICHAS to complete your application.

2 years part-time.



Timetable

Timetables will be made available closer to the course start date.



This course is delivered over 2 Years Part-Time. Lectures are delivered one evening a week from 6pm-9pm and on approximately eight Saturdays from 9:30am-4:30 pm in the academic year (Sept-May). This M.A. is taught using a combination of classroom-based and skill-based learning in practice settings. The programme utilises Blended learning for theoretic elements of engagement. In-person attendance is required for skills-based modules.

Intake Dates:

Dublin - Part-Time - September 2027

Limerick - Part-Time - September 2027

Cork - Part-Time - September 2027

Progression:

On successful completion of the MA in Counselling & Psychotherapy, learners will be qualified to access Level 10 Programmes on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).



Career Options:

This programme is designed to meet the requirement of professional accreditation with the Association of Professional Counsellors and Psychotherapists (APCP) and the National Association for Professional Counselling & Psychotherapy. Graduates from this programme can be found working in various settings across the caring profession and can be found working in such as:

Private Practice

HSE

Addiction Treatment Centres

Pieta House

Aiseiri

My Move Counselling Services

Tusla

Social Care

Mental Health Nursing