Positive Psychology is the scientific study of the individual characteristics and environmental conditions that allow human beings to flourish. This course takes an empirical and experiential approach to helping individuals understand and use course content to enhance their lives. Topics covered may include happiness and well-being, positive emotions and thinking, character strengths and virtues, motivation and self-control, resilience and post-traumatic growth, and healthy relationships and institutions.

This course focuses on an understanding of counselling and developing practical skills. The importance of counselling for the wellbeing of individuals and society is being increasingly recognised. You will be introduced to the nature of counselling and learn and practice active listening skills such as reflecting, paraphrasing, summarising, and giving feedback.

The course combines practical and theoretical study to not only develop the learner’s professional expertise but also give learner greater self-awareness and understanding. Learners will investigate pragmatically and critically how coaching works in organisations and how it is an important skill for leaders. Learners will review a range of coaching techniques, discussing their relevance and efficacy, and consider pertinent issues that face the contemporary coach.

Person-Centered Therapy (PCT) is a humanistic theory of psychotherapy developed by Carl Rogers, and is widely-regarded as a major influence on most modern psychotherapeutic approaches and schools of thought. PCT emphasizes the cultivation of a client’s internal resources through the quality of the therapeutic relationship between therapist and client. In this regard, the PCT therapist is encouraged to assume the three “core conditions” of empathy, congruence, and unconditional positive regard for their client.