Program Overview

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Intercultural Counselling Practice and Processes (Distance Learning)

Counselling and Wellbeing

START DATE

June 2025

ATTENDANCE

Part-time

LEARNING MODE

Distance Learning

Course summary

The Distance Learning Intercultural Counselling Practice and Processes course will offer you training on understanding different cultures, psychosocial contexts and their impact on counselling practices. It will enable you to develop a variety of counselling skills which can be applied in a range of interpersonal, intercultural 'helping' and consultative roles. It will also expand your critical understanding of the underpinning theory and research evidence relating to what works in counselling. There will be a specific focus on professional areas of application related to healthcare and humanitarian sectors.

The course gives you the chance to practice your counselling skills weekly during experiential sessions online (that can be video-recorded) with your classmates and to receive feedback live or via email from lecturers and other peers.

This course supports the priorities set out in the new WHO 2025 Guidance on Mental Health Policy and Strategic Action Plans, which emphasize the need to:

• Train practitioners to deliver inclusive, person-centred care for diverse populations
• Provide community-based support that addresses social and structural determinants
• Promote dignity, autonomy, and recovery-oriented approaches

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

The Intercultural Counselling Practice and Processes course is an accredited Level 7 (Postgraduate) short course with 30 credits. You can study it flexibly as stand-alone short course without credit (without assignment), with credit, or use it as a building block for a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or MSc in Humanitarian Intervention course.

The course will cover the following topics:

1. Key Concepts in Intercultural Counselling: Cultural Humility, Cultural Competence, and Cross-Cultural Empathy
2. Psychosocial counselling theories and practices
3. Research evidence - effectiveness in therapy and the 'common factors' research
4. Understanding culture and diversity

- Developing a collaborative alliance
- Relationship qualities - empathy, acceptance and genuineness

5. Culturally Responsive Practices - Attending - Listening - Empathy - Probing and challenging 6. Humanistic and Existential counselling and practices 7. Working creatively using art and cultural resources (poems, music, body work) 8. Moving Forward - Developing goals, plans and interventions

You will develop and expand your self-awareness, self-reflection and counselling skills during skills practice where you will receive and give constructive feedback and observations.

HOW YOU'LL LEARN

Every week you will attend pre-recorded lectures (1 hour and half each) and live skills practice sessions (1 hour and a half each) for a total period of 12 weeks. The course is Distance Learning only and it is led by highly experienced lecturers with professional qualifications and expertise in either Psychotherapy or Counselling Psychology.

You will engage in experiential activities and skills practice with your peers. At the end of the course, you will submit:

• one skills practice session of 15 minutes in the role of listener; and
• written essay (2000 words) on a critical reflective analysis.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible for this course, you will need a degree (Minimum 2:2 Honours) in any discipline. You can also apply to this course if you have a professional qualification as either social worker, registered nurse, medical doctor, chartered psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor.

Prior basic training in Counselling or Counselling Skills is required.

At the time of the application, please provide a personal statement where you introduce yourself, explain your reasons for applying to this course and give information about prior training in this field.

FEES AND FUNDING

• Non credited: £1,317
• Credited £2,170 (home)

YOUR FUTURE CAREER

This course will enable you to integrate intercultural competences and intercultural counselling skills and qualities in your existing professional role, enhancing communication and relational competences.

It can also be used if you are interested in progressing your studies and career in international humanitarian psychosocial intervention.

Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.