Counselling Courses

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Counselling is defined as the provision of professional support, assistance and guidance in resolving personal and/or psychological problems.

If you are interested in becoming a counsellor, view our courses here

Counselling is a type of ‘talk therapy’. It is a process where an individual, a couple, a family or a group meet with a trained counsellor to discuss the challenges they are facing in their lives. Counselling sessions are confidential and generally take place at scheduled times and dates for a set period of time.

While counsellors are able to help with a wide range of problems, many professional counsellors prefer to work within specific areas of interest  which include, but are not limited to, grief, trauma, crisis, anxiety, general stress, family relationships, sexuality, HIV/AIDS, and addiction, to name but a few.

If you are interested in becoming a counsellor, view our courses here

A good counsellor should:

• Be both a good listener and communicator.
• Respect other people’s feelings, points of view, and circumstances.
• Be kind, open-minded, and understanding.
• Be professional.
• Be ethical.
• Respect the bounds of confidentiality.

If you are interested in becoming a counsellor, view our courses here

Professional counsellors don’t:

• Give advice.
• Pass judgment.
• Solve client’s problems for them. Instead, they provide clarity as to what the problem is that needs to be resolved.
• Get emotionally involved.

If you are interested in becoming a counsellor, view our courses here

At times, a person might experience stress, a crisis or trauma, or struggle with unresolved issues that generate unhealthy behaviour that can cause disruption in their lives. Counsellors offer support and provide clarity, and if needs be, refer their client to specialists for further help.

Counselling can help people identify the issue that has caused them emotional distress. Working together as a team, a counsellor and the client focus on ways to manage or overcome the issue. This could include strategies for increased self-awareness, improving communication skills, improving low self-esteem, creating shifts in thinking and/or behaviour, and healthy coping mechanisms.

If you are interested in becoming a counsellor view our courses here

Counselling helps to reduce a client’s confusion. It allows the client to make effective and healthy decisions that lead to positive changes in their thinking and behaviour. Counselling can help a client to better cope with and manage difficult emotions, life circumstances, as well as physical and mental conditions.

Interested in becoming a counsellor? View our courses here

Trained counsellors have skills and insights that a person’s typical support network (e.g. partner, family members, friends, colleagues) may lack. This also means a trained counsellor is more objective, not emotionally invested in the outcome and able to provide you with an unbiased, non-judgemental and safe space to engage with your current challenges. The more common reasons why people seek counselling include:

• On-going feelings of anxiety, sadness or anger.
• Losing interest or motivation for the things they used take pleasure in.
• Losing a loved one.
• Losing a job.
• Abusing drugs, alcohol, food, gambling, sex, or other forms of addiction.
• Experiencing physical and/or emotional trauma, such as a car accident, a personal attack, a robbery, or natural disaster.

Interested in becoming a counsellor? View our courses here

All of SACAP’s qualifications are accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). SACAP has both vocational and professional counselling qualifications to choose from, some of these include:

• The Diploma in Counselling and Communication Skills, which is professionally endorsed by the Association for Supportive Counsellors and Holistic Practitioners (ASCHP); and
• Both the Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) and Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Psychology [BPsych Equivalent Programme] lead to professional registration as a Registered Counsellor with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).

When choosing which counselling qualification to study, it is important to look at the history of the institution that is delivering the programme. It is important to ask the following questions: Does the institution specialise in your field of interest? Does it have a proven track record and a team of reputable educators? Are the programmes accredited, how big are the classes, and does the programme include practical experience?

SACAP has over 20 years of experience in teaching applied psychology and counselling and is known for its academically robust and accredited curricula that includes invaluable practical skills-based training and experience.

View SACAP’s counselling courses here

Professional counselling can focus a variety of focus areas, including:

• Abuse – such as emotional, mental, physical and sexual.
• Addictions – alcohol, drugs, exercise, gambling, shopping, sex, and work, among others.
• Anger management
• Bereavement and loss
• Depression
• Eating Disorders – such as anorexia, binge eating disorder, bulimia and compulsive overeating.
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Relationships – such as couple’s counselling, divorce counselling, intimacy issues and infidelity, among others
• Working with adolescents
• Working with children
• Trauma
• Gender
• Sexuality
• HIV/AIDS counselling

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SACAP’s Higher Certificate in Counselling and Communication Skills is a short skills-based vocational programme that provides an introduction in to counselling, communication and human behaviour. You will gain skills that you can apply in your place of work, or you can build on these foundational skills and study further within the social sciences.

You will also be eligible to apply for SACAP’s Bachelor of Applied Social Science with the potential for credit transfer for a selection of modules within the first year of that programme.

Counselling sessions can take place in many places, but most commonly in private consultation rooms, clinics, or community centres. No matter where the session happens, counselling should be conducted in a private, quiet and safe place where clients can talk in confidence without any interruptions. Counselling can take place in person, in a group, over the phone, as well as via secure online platforms.

Do you want to become a counsellor? View our courses here

Counselling skills are important as they enable professional counsellors to better understand and listen to their clients. Through active listening, trust is built and the client feels heard and understood, which encourages clients to willingly engage in a positive process of change.

Interested in doing a counselling course? View our courses here

HIV/AIDS counselling provides support to people who are:

• About to undertake an HIV test.
• Dealing with the result of their HIV test whether it be positive or negative.
• Learning to understand what it means to be HIV-positive. Counsellors can teach clients how to live a positive life, including discussion around sexual transmission, pregnancy, medical care, and social stigmatism, among other important issues.

Does counselling interest you? View our courses here