Counseling is usually focused on a specific issue for a limited amount of time while therapy helps a client understand himself/herself and his/her patterns of thought, feelings, and behaviors. Counseling and therapy are often used interchangeably, but there are some key difference between them. 

Counseling involves working with a mental health counselor or clinical mental health counselor on a specific issue for a limited amount of time. For example, counseling can help a client if s/he has difficulty managing stress and want guidance on tools s/he can use when being stressed out. Usually, counseling focuses on a specific issue for a limited amount of time. In this program, trainees will be introduced to Gerard Egan’s Skilled Helper model. 

Therapy can be more long-term and focuses on a client as an individual – how a client sees himself/herself and the world, his/her thoughts, and his/her behaviors, as well as the underlying patterns of why the client does the things s/he does. For example, if a client was suffering from depression, s/he and his/her mental health therapist can explore how depression impacts his/her everyday life and how to develop better coping strategies so that the client can feel better. The client usually goes to therapy sessions on a more long-term basis. There are many types of therapies which include mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, rational emotive behavioral therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, etc.

In this ten 30-hour modules covering the entire diploma program, learners will be taught both child and adolescent counselling and therapy. Every learner has to cover all the 10 modules without any exemptions. This program constitutes the foundation of child and adolescent counselling and therapy.

This 1-year Executive Diploma provides learners without prior knowledge to embark a career as a child and adolescent counselor. The program represents practical knowledge, skills, capabilities and competencies. The executive diploma is accredited and conferred by the International Association of Therapists. Graduates could gain module exemptions of the Membership Qualifying Programs with the renowned professional body International Association of Counselors and Therapists (IACT) based in the United States of America (USA). 

IACT is a prestigious professional body that admits members who have fulfilled the rigorous Membership Qualifying Programs and requirements to obtain practising licenses as counselors and therapists. Membership with IACT is a mark of high standard and excellence. Practising members are not only knowledgeable, skilled but are also highly respected as well. 

The modules are: