Self-test: Is the "Consultant (Cert.)" course the right one for me?

A counselor in conversation with a client.
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Analysis of the activities of psychological counselors

What does the day-to-day work of consultants look like?

Psychological and psychosocial counsellors work in their own counselling practice or as employees of counselling centres, non-profit organizations, aid agencies, social and medical institutions or in group practices. They advise individuals, couples, families or groups on issues of personal development, conflict resolution, resource building, increasing personal resilience and developing crisis management strategies. Psychosocial counselors advise, accompany and support people, e.g. in coping with difficult life situations such as unemployment or the loss of a loved one or in resolving disabling behavioral patterns such as addiction, anxiety or relationship difficulties.

At the beginning of a consultation, we get to know each other, define the topic, evaluate the initial situation and jointly define the consulting assignment. From this, the counselor draws up a counseling plan. The methods used are diverse and range from process-oriented or body-centered approaches to talk therapy, transactional analysis and mental techniques to Christian or spiritually oriented counseling approaches.

Question 1:

Would I like to work as a psychological counselor?

Who is the "Counselor (Cert.)" course suitable for?

Target group:

  • People who advise and support people in their professional or voluntary work
  • People who want to familiarize themselves with psychological topics and forms of counselling and become competent in them
  • Persons seeking a federal qualification as a counselor in the psychosocial field

Personal requirements:

  • Psychological interest
  • Good linguistic expression
  • Mental resilience
  • Sense of responsibility and discretion

Course description:

Further important key points of the "Consultant (Cert.)" course are described here:
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Question 2:

Are you generally interested in this course?

Admission to the course and the federal examinations

Admission to the course

Most schools do not require any specific prior education for admission to the course, only a minimum age of 20 years and professional experience.

Admission to the federal examination

The following conditions must be met for admission to the federal PET examination:

  • Federal qualification at the level of professional examination, higher professional examination, higher technical college or university
  • Six years of professional experience with a counseling function in the psychosocial field
  • Own counseling practice in the psychosocial field with at least 15 counseling processes and a total of at least 80 sessions
  • At least 30 hours of client-related supervision
  • At least 30 hours of psychosocial counseling as a client
  • Participation in at least 8 sessions of a supervision group over two years
  • At least 15 hours of supervision by an accredited teaching supervisor for at least one year

Question 3:

Do I meet the requirements?

Financing of further training

The course fees for the "Consultant (Cert.)" course are to be paid either at the beginning of the course or by the semester. However, in individual cases it is also possible to agree individual installment payments.

Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal higher professional examinations have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses can therefore be reimbursed up to 50% of the course costs paid after taking the federal examination.You can find more information here.

Question 4:

Are you in a position to pre-finance between CHF 13,000 and CHF 29,000 for the course fee, depending on the provider and other general conditions, until you are reimbursed the federal contribution after taking the final examination?

Time spent on classroom teaching and learning (homework)

The part-time course lasts approximately three years. Depending on the provider, the face-to-face teaching of approx. 500 hours takes place on a fixed weekday, at weekends or in blocks of several days.

The amount of learning and practice required over the entire training period averages 10 hours per week.

Question 5:

Can I cope with the time and effort required for the face-to-face lessons and homework?

Conclusion

Will I graduate?

Some general success factors for successfully completing an apprenticeship are:

  • Regular preparation and follow-up of the lesson material at home
  • Committed cooperation in group work, case studies etc.
  • Participation in learning groups for regular exchange
  • Practise exam situations by working on previous exam tasks

Question 6:

Do I have the confidence to pass the final exams?

Have you already made up your mind?
Or would you like to know more?

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