Advanced Counselling Skills Training

Counselling Skills Training Diploma

This comprehensive diploma program is designed for those who want to master their own personal and professional development. The program focuses on counseling.

Students will have learned a comprehensive experience facilitating counseling services for individuals and groups in physical, mental, and emotional wellness.

The diploma program also includes Supervision of 240 hours in the program fee.

Biopsychosocial Approach to Counselling.  An introduction to students to a biopsychosocial framework for counseling psychology that draws upon the physical, mental, and social health disciplines creating an interdisciplinary model from these three pillars.

Basic Counselling Skills. The student will have a basic understanding of a client-centered approach, understanding the core skills such as active listening, nonverbal communication, building rapport, silence, attending, reflecting & paraphrasing, clarifying and the use of questions, focusing, Summarising and immediacy, and how to bring this into practice.

Assessment in Counselling in the clinical setting provides students with an understanding of the concepts and principles involved in psychological assessment and the use of both standardized and non-standardized instruments.

Counselling Methodology – Humanistic & Psychodynamic Modalities Counselling Methodologies: Psychodynamic and Humanistic Modalities is a review of the most important contemporary psychodynamic and humanistic approaches of counseling and psychotherapy, focusing on underlying philosophical assumptions, major concepts, views of personality, the therapeutic process, the counselor’s role, typical interventions, and targeted outcomes.

Counseling Methodologies – Behavioural and Cognitive Modalities Students will examine some of the core theories and methods that influence and direct the practice of contemporary psychotherapy using the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy model.

Ethical Standards for Mental Health Service Providers Standards for ethical conduct and practice set by the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association will be covered, including the scope of practice, professional responsibility, privacy, confidentiality, record keeping, and appropriate relationships during and after counseling.

Group Counselling, Couples & Family Systems.  Students will have a basic understanding of group therapy in a counseling setting, understanding the advantages of working with groups through everyday circumstances.  Providing the community with a sense of belongingness.  Finding Commonalities with others. And working with the group through interpersonal challenges. Roles and family dynamics. Keeping and appearing neutral while understanding the family structure and providing a solution-based approach.

Counselling Skills and Competencies

Cultural Diversity in Counselling   Exploring and understanding cultural differences, structuring counseling interventions. Students have a basic understanding of worldview, identity formation.  Understanding of the role of personal, ethnic, social, and cultural factors in multicultural counseling. Multicultural competence with interpersonal dynamics among individuals of different gender, ages, sexual orientations, race, cultural membership, etc.

DSM V- Students will understand what the diagnostic statistic manual is for, how to use it, and its common terms.

Addiction Counselling   A basic introduction for students who would like to understand more about what addiction is, examining various methods, strategies, and techniques used to assess addictions and other problem areas that may co-exist or underlie additions. This is an introductory course.

Crisis and Trauma Counselling.  Students will learn what A crisis refers to and not just to a traumatic event or experience, but to an individual's response to the situation. The events that trigger this crisis can run the gamut of life experience, from developmental hurdles (such as going through puberty) to natural disasters to the death of a loved one. How to offer assistance and support. As well as what the primary purpose is and how to help the individual restore a sense of control and mastery after an event.

Gestalt Therapy Students will learn Gestalt therapy is a client-centered approach to psychotherapy that helps clients focus on the present and understand what is really happening in their lives right now, rather than what they may perceive to be happening based on experience. Instead of simply talking about past situations, clients are encouraged to experience them, perhaps through re-enactment. Through the gestalt process, clients learn to become more aware of how their own negative thought patterns and behaviors block true self-awareness and make them unhappy.

Narrative Therapy Students learn the fundamentals of Narrative Therapy through stories, separating the problems from the person. Understanding narrative practices including externalization, remembering, therapeutic letter writing, and more.

Note Taking, Record Keeping.  This course offers students guidelines on note-taking, the importance of record-keeping, and how it applies to your practice. Your responsibilities to the client and the governing body.

 Tuition $4800. plus an administration fee of $100.00, does not include books.  Books are approximate 350.00. A list of required books will be provided upon registration. Students are required to have a minimum 80% mark to pass.

Hypnotherapy Certified Training Course

Meristem’s Certified Hypnotherapy course combines self-paced online-training and live-training.

 The course is 329 hours plus the practicum/supervisor hours.

 Online classes include instructions, demonstrations, and practices. The online classes will allow for learning, as well as integration, development of technique, and application, within a safe and supervised setting. Each student will have the opportunity to see clearly while experiencing hypnosis as both an observer and as a participant. Although some classes are structured, Meristem allows the students to explore some hidden interests. Meristem’s topics of discussion include:

• Hypnotic Inductions
• Basic Counselling and Hypnotherapy
• Creating a hypnotherapy session from the client’s past experiences
• The beginning, middle, and end of a session
• Tone and Pacing
• Metaphors and Stories
• Abreactions
• Self-care for the therapist & Ethics

All of Meristem’s courses are designed for a client-centered approach. The courses are designed for any student who wants to learn and apply this knowledge in everyday situations. Meristem counselors begin with the basics, and progress until the student is capable of a wholesome lifestyle. Meristem is the right place for anybody that is new to hypnotherapy or wants to learn more about the field. Meristem’s courses also include basic counseling. This allows the students to go through a step-by-step process, from start to finish. Moreover, this builds a better relationship while helping discover the root-cause issues on a basic level.

Each student will also have the opportunity to practice the skills acquired in a practicum; which is mandatory for all of Meristem’s students to graduate. The program requirements are:

1. Successful completion of all course assignments.
2. Reading all required texts and manuals.
3. Completion of a total of 60 client sessions (of which three sessions are video-recorded and submitted).
4. Attending and participating in live class training.
5. Successful completion of all exams (Minimum of 80% to pass).

At the end of this course, the student will earn a certificate in hypnotherapy. Should the student want to expand the new career, into a clinical counseling aspect of hypnotherapy, Meristem encourages each certified-student to apply for the diploma course.

Cost of Course: $1985 + $130 for books ($150 Admin. fee is applicable).

We offer interest free payment plans.

Clinical Supervision

Supervision is taught through student-conducted practice sessions. Students will conduct an additional 30 sessions with actual clients, and video record two additional sessions for a grand evaluation. The instructor will supervise the progress as it proceeds by communicating with each student through telephone, Skype, Zoom, or e-mail.

The student's hypnotherapy and counseling skills will be critiqued for further refinement and accuracy. Students will also be required to observe a variety of sessions on video, which will also be conducted by the instructor and other participants.

Cost of Course: $450 + $100 admin. fee

Reiki Level 1

Are you drawn to energy work but just not sure how to begin or refine your existing practice? Are you looking for a Reiki healing course with a vibrant community, real integrity & internationally recognized certification?

Reiki Level I is a self-directed course that allows students to learn about Reiki. Reiki is a universal energy that has been used successfully across the planet to heal emotional, physical, and energetic imbalances. This course allows the student to form lifelong kindred bonds and friendships with a like-minded global community. The course also allows for increased confidence as a Reiki Master because the student will have the tools needed to perform effective Reiki sessions and teach and attune other students.

Discover how to help yourself & others with Reiki energy.

Are you drawn to energy work but just not sure how to begin or refine your existing practice?

Are you looking for a Reiki healing course with a vibrant community, real integrity & internationally recognized certification

Form lifelong kindred bonds & friendships with a like-minded global community

Have increased confidence as a Reiki Master because you have the tools you need to perform effectively Reiki sessions and teach and attune other students

Have the potential to earn an income doing something you absolutely love

In Level I of this course you will learn about the history of Reiki as a healing modality and tool for enlightenment. You will explore how Reiki works and begin practicing using this amazing energy with yourself.

Cost of Course: $398 + $100 Admin. fee.

If you want to do Reiki Level 1 & 2 together, the cost would be $750 + admin fee.

If you want to do all three levels of Reiki the cost would be $1000 + admin fee.

Reiki Level II

In Reiki’s level II program, the student will learn how to perform Reiki from a distance. The student will also learn how to use aspects of the Reiki energy to clear unwanted habits and manifest your goals. This is a self-directed course.

 Cost of Course: $398 + $100 Admin. fee.

Reiki Master III

In Reiki’s Level III program, the student will learn how to teach and perform attunements on others wanting to utilize Reiki for themselves. This is a self-directed course.

Students will receive a comprehensive manual, including additional worksheets. Students will have the choice to connect with other like-minded individuals in an active online group, which can be accessed after the completion of the course.

Students will also receive distance attunements for all three levels from the instructor. Lastly, students will receive a traditional certificate (in .pdf format) from the instructor when the course is completed.

This course can be used as a way to enhance personal growth while working on any imbalances within yourself (or those around you). Individuals wanting to add Reiki to any current practices or wanting to begin an individual Reiki practice will benefit greatly from this series. Individuals wanting to teach Reiki to others will have the material after the completion of the course.

This course can be used as a way to enhance personal growth and/or work on any imbalances within yourself or those around you. Individuals wanting to add Reiki to their current practice or wanting to begin their own Reiki practice will benefit highly from this course. Also, individuals wanting to teach Reiki to others will have the material they need to do so once they have completed this course.

 Why take this course?

• Every part of this course meets the highest levels of integrity
• This curriculum is endorsed and reflects best practice
• You can use your internationally recognized certification as soon as you graduate

This course is comprehensive and detailed. With over 8 hours of video lectures as well as a 160-page manual, you will have the tools you need to start using Reiki on yourself and in your life as well as with others on a personal and professional level.

Unlike in-person courses, you can take the time you need to work through the material while having continuous access to ask your Certified Reiki Master/Teacher questions. You also have lifetime access to the course materials and any updates that are made.

You will be given manuals in addition to the course manuals that you can edit and use for your own Reiki practice and teaching. This course is always being added to, and with your lifetime access, you can access the new information whenever you choose.

Unlike other online Reiki courses that provide automatic attunements for all students at a set time, in this course you will set a specific time and date for your distance attunements that your Instructor will perform with you specifically.

You will also receive a unique and authentic Traditional Reiki certificate (pdf) via email once you have completed the course. You can use this beautiful certificate for display purposes with your clients.

Cost of Course: $398 + $100 Admin. fee.