Counselling Courses

Can anyone give unbiased advice about any of the 3-year counselling/phychotherapy courses on offer around the country. Some of them seem to be a bit dodgy or 'New Age', and they are all very expensive. I am particulary interested in courses available in the West.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy is one of the few talk/counselling therapies scientifically proven to work in case that's of any use to you.

Cognitive-Behaviour Therapy (based on the ideas of B.F.Skinner, a stimulus-response psychologist...have a look in your library for Walden Two Macmillan 1948) functions through a series of measurable interventions, therefore it is 'measurable' by currently-available statistical tests. That is all. This does not "prove" its efficacy and in fact the research evidence is that its efficacy and effectiveness (insofar as these things claim to be measurable) is short-term.

There are - as I think you have found from your own research - a vast range of trainings and courses on offer. I am not familiar with the universities and trainings on the West coast but know that in Dublin B.A. and M.A.-level counselling trainings are offered by Trinity College Dublin and University College Dublin. My advice is to approach your nearest university (e.g. University Sligo/Galway/Cork) and enquire about their courses and trainings. If you intend to make this field your career it might be advisable to speak with the Postgraduate Academic Registrar to enquire which introductory and undergraduate courses and trainings funnel in to the Masters and PhD trainings.

I wish you well with what can be difficult though fascinating work.

Being a Guidance Counsellor my advice would be to go to any Adult Guidance service, whichever is nearest to you. If you already have a degree U.C.C offers the best Post Grad course in Career Guidance and Counselling in Ireland.

my girlfriend is studying cognitive behaviour and psychotherapy and in her second year. Shes studying this on a part time basis in limerick of a saturday in u.l.
I was asking her about it and to know was it feasable to get her money back in tax and she didnt seem to know but said it was under f.e.t.a.c. so im wondering can she do this as last year it cost €1500 and this year it cost €2000. she also had to go to Maynooth for a week doing psychometric testing and other things and paid out money for them

she also has to get some personal development course and counselling herself as part of the course now as i know absolutely nothing about this subject i'm wondering is it one of the good or bad courses and can she get reimbursed with some of the money she put into it. I think the course is with the senior college but being done in U.L. love to have some information to give to her any advice appreciated

Thanks

Thanks everybody.
I am mainly interested in learning how to help people reach their full potential and overcome the inhibitions and obstacles that hold so many Irish people back. The reason I posed the question is that the courses available last three to four years and cost four to five thousand Euro per year, plus paying for personal counselling at €50-80 per hour for up to a hundred hours during the course. The establishments I investigated also put pressure on people to attend extra weekend courses and so on. What I would like is an endorsment from someone who has actually attended a course, and can truthfully say that it was worth it on both a personal and professional level. As I said before, there is a whiff of cultish/brainwashing from some of the people involved in this sector.