Certificate in Practice of Counselling Skills in Healthcare

Introduction of the Sector

Counselling is a professional service which aims at supporting individuals in managing and overcoming emotional, psychological, and behavioural challenges. By creating a safe, non- judgemental environment, counsellors empower clients to explore their thoughts and feelings, develop coping strategies, and work towards improved mental well-being and emotional resilience. Counselling plays a vital role in healthcare. Multiple psychological – behavioural issues are associated with the health condition of an individual. All such issues are addressed in health counselling which help individuals to achieve the physical and psychological well-being.

Programme Introduction

Lifestyle diseases / Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, kidney diseases, etc are collectively responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide. Tobacco use, physical inactivity, stress, the harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and air pollution increase the risk of dying from these diseases. According to the various sources, lifestyle / non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to around 5.87 million (60%) of all deaths in India. Four types of NCDs - cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes make the largest contribution to morbidity and mortality in India. Counselling plays a major role in the prevention and management of the NCDs because individuals who are prone to it, are supposed to make the lifestyle changes. It has been proved that mere advice or health education is not enough to bring the lifestyle or behaviour changes. Thorough personal intervention through counselling and psychotherapeutic techniques is required. Prevention of NCDs and control intervention are important parts of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS). Counselling is a key component in this programme. Considering this, the School of Skill Education, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai offers the Short-term Skill Enhancement Programme (StSEP) - Certificate in Practice of Counselling Skills in Healthcare. This programme aims to equip the psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, health counsellors and healthcare professionals with counselling skills and psychotherapeutic techniques required for counselling the NCD patients.

Career Prospects / Job Role

• Lifestyle diseases / Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, kidney diseases, etc are collectively responsible for 74% of all deaths worldwide. Tobacco use, physical inactivity, stress, the harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and air pollution increase the risk of dying from these diseases.
• According to the various sources, lifestyle / non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute to around 5.87 million (60%) of all deaths in India. Four types of NCDs - cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes make the largest contribution to morbidity and mortality in India.
• Counselling plays a major role in the prevention and management of the NCDs because individuals who are prone to it, are supposed to make the lifestyle changes. It has been proved that mere advice or health education is not enough to bring the lifestyle or behaviour changes. Thorough personal intervention through counselling and psychotherapeutic techniques is required.
• Prevention of NCDs and control intervention are important parts of the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke (NPCDCS). Counselling is a key component in this programme.
• Considering this, the School of Skill Education, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai offers the Short-term Skill Enhancement Programme (StSEP) - Certificate in Practice of Counselling Skills in Healthcare.
• This programme aims to equip the psychologists, social workers, nutritionists, health counsellors and healthcare professionals with counselling skills and psychotherapeutic techniques required for counselling the NCD patients.