Eligibility:
Qualification in Counselling, Psychotherapy or other helping professionals with therapeutic experience. . Students currently in training will be considered, on the understanding that the Certificate qualification cannot be used until they have qualified.Entry is by application form.

Knowledge

Sexual Abuse
On completion of this section of the course students will:

• Critically analyse the main definitions and types of sexual abuse – Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse, Rape and Sexual Assault - and their typical presentation
• Understand the impact of these issues on clients – aspects of post-traumatic stress syndrome, memory loss, grief, dissociative behaviours and psychosexual issues
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the development of theories in these areas
• Evaluate and critique the different clinical approaches in each area
• Have gained critical awareness of the nature of transference and counter-transference in the work
• Be critically aware of the possibility of vicarious traumatisation in this work and the need for appropriate supervision

Sexual Dysfunction/Addiction
On completion of this section of the course students will:

• Have a critical understanding of the main types of Sexual Dysfunction/Addiction and their typical presentation, including disorders of desire, arousal and orgasm
• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the relevant theories
• Critically evaluate the CBT approach to these issues

Skills

Sexual Abuse
On completion of this section of the course students will demonstrate sufficient awareness in relation to how they might assess and develop their skills in the
following areas:

• The process of assessment
• Possible referral
• Relating symptoms to underlying issues, and deciding appropriate treatment levels at commencement and during the course of the therapy
• Understanding the complexity and varied time span involved in working with the client
• Providing educative resources to the client

Sexual Dysfunction/Addiction
On completion of this section of the course students will demonstrate sufficient awareness in relation to how they might assess and develop their skills in the
following areas:

• The process of assessment and possible referral
• Relating symptoms to underlying issues, and deciding at what level to intervene
• Setting realistic goals in collaboration with the client
• Providing educative resources to the client

Assessment:
Trainees are required to write a critical essay, of 3,500 words, on a topic of direct relevance to this module (the topic should be discussed with the module tutor).The essay needs to be set in the general context of the module, and refer to other topics covered, albeit briefly.

Students need to show:

• A critical awareness of the relevant literature, and the student’s own thoughts on the issues discussed
• An awareness of their own personal response to the issues discussed
• Some thoughts as to the relevance to counselling practice of the issues discussed, with casework illustrations

Fees: €750 (€500 for PCI College Students and Graduates)
Fees are non-refundable in all personal circumstances. All courses run subject to demand and the formation of a viable class cohort. A full refund will be given to all applicants in the event that the class does not proceed.

PCI Senior Staff & Faculty

Eoin Stephens

M.A. (Counselling), Dip. Couns., B.A. (Psychology), MIACP, MIAAAC
College President and Head of Counselling & Psychotherapy

One of Ireland’s leading Cognitive Behavioural Therapists, Eoin has more than 20 years experience in the field as a therapist, teacher and supervisor. Eoin is also a Director of CBT Solutions therapy centre and a co-founder of Dual Diagnosis Ireland. He has held positions on various committees of both the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and the Irish Association of Alcohol and Addiction Counsellors. He has been acknowledged by the IACP for his work in the field of counselling and psychotherapy as the recipient of the 2010 Carl Berkeley Memorial award.