SACAP - South African College of Applied Psychology

“I did my fieldwork at the Woolworths Distribution Centre. I benefited enormously from the supervision offered by the College. But mostly it was such a deep privilege to walk with people on their journey to healing and growth.”

Penny McKenzie
Graduate Diploma in Counselling & Communication

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an integral part the Counselling, Coaching and Facilitation Qualifications at the South African College of Applied Psychology. Fieldwork provides students with the opportunity to gain practical experience in their chosen field of interest. Students are able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in class to either face-to-face counselling, coaching or group facilitation in a personal or organisational setting.

The fieldwork for counselling comprises of a compulsory 13th module called Fieldwork Practicum.

Workshops

The Skills Development Workshop is designed to enrich the students knowledge and further develop their skills by exposing them to case studies, practice sessions and fishbowl activities. This workshop is a precursor to the actual field placement and builds the students confidence and assesses their readiness to work with clients.

The Fieldwork Placement

Students are required to complete a practical placement in an organisational setting where they can put their knowledge and skills into action. Activities undertaken include observational learning, counselling and case management, group facilitation, working with children and facilitation life skills. Students are required to write comprehensive reports that facilitate learning and are supported through regular supervision and feedback sessions. A final written assignment and oral presentation, together with supervisor feedback assess student competence.

Site visits

Site visits to various counselling related organisations are arranged so that students can begin to establish a referral network and grow an awareness of other resources that are available to clients.

COACHING FIELDWORK

Fieldwork for Coaching has three components:

Applied Coaching - where the student does voluntary coaching with clients either in an organisational setting or in their personal capacity.
Supervision – this is where the students are required to attend a prescribed number of supervision sessions, Supervision is a forum for constructive feedback and further skills development.
Receiving Coaching - this is where the student “gets to be the client” and enters into a coaching relationship with a professional coach to experience coaching for themselves. This is a wonderful way for the student to grow in the profession as well as a space for them to explore and achieve their own goals related to the new career in which they are embarking.

Facilitation

The Fieldwork Programme builds upon rigorous theoretical foundation that is laid in class and provides an opportunity for students to put their newly acquired skills into practice.

Fieldwork Organisational Profiles