Advanced Diploma in Bereavement Counselling and Thanatology

UK College of Holistic Training - Advanced Diploma in Bereavement Counselling and Thanatology

A distance learning course. Suggested study time 6 to 9 months.

The course can benefit any person who regularly comes into contact with people suffering from bereavement, grief or loss, e.g. counsellors, therapists, doctors and nurses, professional carers, hospice managers and staff, volunteers, social workers, charity workers, pastors, police officers, magistrates, legal workers, funeral directors, etc.

A brief outline of the course (this syllabus is subject to change):

Interdisciplinary Study of Death and Bereavement (Psychological, religious and cultural aspects)
Grief Counselling and Therapy Death, Dying and Bereavement
The Five Stages of Loss
Moving Beyond Death, Divorce and Loss
The Healing Power of After-Death Communication
Terminal Care and Bereavement Counselling
Scientific Evidence of life After Death
Final Project

The final project requires the student to write 3,000 to 5,000 words on a special aspect of death or bereavement, using the student's choice of books, articles & other sources. A list of suggested topics will be provided. The project may be cultural, philosophical, psychological, metaphysical, spiritual or based upon practitioner case studies.

Approx. 6 textbooks will be required for the core syllabus and the student will need to purchase the books.

Method of assessment : Continuous assessment - there is no final exam. Students will be asked to write brief essays after reading certain chapters of each set textbook. All assessment work may be done at home and e-mailed or posted to the college.