Professional Diploma in Psychological and Behavioral Disorders
Department of Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy — Novera International University
1. Program Overview:
A specialized professional and applied program extending over 3 months (80 hours of approved study load), aimed at providing participants with the clinical knowledge and counseling skills necessary to understand and diagnose the most common psychological and behavioral disorders in accordance with the latest scientific classifications. The program focuses on the study of clinical symptoms, differential diagnosis, and appropriate intervention plans and therapeutic guidance for dealing with mood problems, anxiety, personality disorders, and psychotic and neurotic disorders.
2. Key Objectives:
- Understanding Psychopathology: acquiring knowledge of the fundamental concepts of psychological disorders and accurately distinguishing between normal and disordered behavior.
- Mastering the diagnosis of clinical disorders: understanding the symptoms and types of schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, paranoia, mood and anxiety disorders, and sleep problems.
- Analyzing and understanding personality disorders: identifying disordered personality patterns such as interpersonal sensitivity disorder, dependent personality disorder, and others.
- Acquiring counseling intervention skills and practical applications: training in proposed guidance and psychotherapy methods, studying clinical cases, and applying treatment plans.
3. Target Audience:
- Psychologists, social workers, psychological counselors, and educational counselors.
- Practitioners in psychological clinics, counseling centers, and hospitals.
- Graduates and students of Psychology, Psychological Counseling, Social Sciences, and Psychiatry programs.
- Individuals interested in developing an in-depth understanding of mental health and the diagnosis of behavioral problems.
4. Training Program Modules (12 Specialized and Applied Modules):
1. Introduction to Psychopathology and Behavioral Disorders.
2. Schizophrenia, Its Types, and Proposed Treatment and Guidance Methods.
3. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Methods of Dealing with It.
4. Interpersonal Sensitivity Disorder.
5. Dependent Personality Disorder.
6. Paranoia (Delusional Disorder).
7. Personality Disorders and Their Clinical Patterns.
8. Sleep Disorders and Their Behavioral and Psychological Effects.
9. Anxiety Problems and Their Various Disorders.
10. Mood Disorders (Depression and Affective Fluctuations).
11. Practical Applications and Clinical Case Studies.
12. Final Review and Assessment.
5. Program Data and Organizational Assessment:
- Field and subfield: Psychology / Psychological Counseling and Psychotherapy.
- Duration and sessions: 3 months (evening period) | from 20 to 25 lectures (two lectures per week, two hours per lecture).
- Distribution of credit hours (80 hours):
· 50 hours: interactive live lectures (remote / online).
· 20 hours: required and independent readings.
· 7 hours: chapter questions and self-assessment.
· 3 hours: final review and completion examination.
- Attendance and assessment requirements: an attendance rate of no less than 75% of the live sessions, in addition to assignments and practical applications.
- Final project: an online assessment test (25 multiple-choice questions + 5 practical case-study questions).
