Thursday, February 23, 2012
   
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WHAT IT IS


Positive psychology is a new movement in psychology that studies the lives of healthy, happy and self-fulfilled people to see what behaviours and attitudes actually make life worth living and keep us mentally and emotionally strong and healthy. This new development is in contrast with more traditional psychology which focused on fixing problems and curing mental illness.

Positive psychology gathers evidence on what actually works for people, while much of traditional psychology and psychotherapy is theory-based. It also needs to be distinguished from positive thinking which is more aspirational than actual.

Positive psychology studies human strengths and positive emotions, and also social institutions, to see how they foster or hinder human potential.

Applied positive psychology takes the findings from this new academic field and shows how they can be applied to effective techniques and skills to help people move forward and live happier and more fulfilling lives.

CAREER OPTIONS

Graduates of the diploma course will be ideally placed to coach others in the science and strategies of mining more of one’s potential, either in groups or in one to one sessions.

It is suitable for those wishing to work full time or part time in the field and the skills taught can be used by all whose existing occupations involve dealing with people: team leaders, social workers, human resources personnel, trainers, parents, child care workers, counsellors, priests, doctors, nurses, teachers, youth leaders, business managers: in fact it is difficult to think of an area where this training would NOT be useful! Many people are interested in simply using this training for their own self development

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Selection to the course is by application form , a 300 word essay on your reasons for wanting to train in this area, and interview. Candidates must be over 23 and have evidence of some of the following: Completion of a foundation course in counselling skills or equivalent people-orientated work/life experience; some understanding of holistic principles; Self awareness, maturity, stability, capacity to relate to others; Post leaving certificate diploma or degree, or other evidence of intellectual capacity to complete the course.


SOME SUBJECTS COVERED: What makes people happy? Flow; Maximising strengths and developing resilience; Optimistic and pessimistic thinking styles; Raising children; Cognitive behavioural therapy; Changing mind sets; Relationships; Relaxation/meditation/mindfulness; Self realisation/ Spiritual connection.

KNOWLEDGE BASE
Brief outline of the history of psychology with the main emphasis on the field of positive psychology and those whose work has directly or indirectly contributed to the development of this new field e.g., Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers, Milton Erickson, Virginia Satir, and more recently, Martin Seligman, Mikhail Csikszentmihalyi, Ed Diener, Sonya Lyubomirsky, Barbara Fredrickson, Robert Holden.

Research Methods, particularly outcome-related research and the empirical validation of positive psychology interventions. Life Span Development. Health Psychology. Theories of personality.

SKILLS
Communication, rapport building and humanistic counselling skills. Relaxation and flow training. Parenting skills. Designing positive reinforcement programs. Structuring courses and workshops in positive psychology, life enhancement and stress management. Group facilitation skills.

STRATEGIES
Using the questionnaires and tests developed in positive psychology. The applied positive psychology course also teaches a variety of evidence-based interventions derived from different sources e.g. humanistic psychology, cognitive behavioural therapy, neuro-linguistic programming, solution focused therapy, yoga and Educo philosophy.

DAPP Professional Development

LEARNING STYLE / ASSESSMENT
Lectures. Practice based learning i.e. in-class practice of techniques and strategies with feedback. Working with a learning partner. Practical homework assignments.
Lecture notes will be given on all the course modules.Continuous assessment and feedback on experiential work in class.
Successful completion of all course essays, assignments and projects.


OTHER COURSE REQUIREMENTS
10 hours self development group participation. 10 hours personal therapy.
20 hours client work. Project work.