Diploma in Relationship, Couple & Family Counseling

Relationships are the heart of human experience, yet they are also one of the greatest sources of conflict, stress, and emotional pain. Couples face challenges in communication, intimacy, finances, and parenting, while families struggle with generational gaps, crises, and identity shifts.

The Diploma in Relationship, Couple & Family Counseling at the Chartered Institute of Counseling in Nigeria (CICN) is designed to equip professionals with the skills to help individuals, couples, and families build healthier, stronger, and more resilient relationships.

This program integrates counseling theories, family systems psychology, and culturally relevant practices to prepare graduates for meaningful work in family therapy, couple counseling, and relationship guidance.

Why Choose the CICN Diploma in Relationship, Couple & Family Counseling?

Strong families and relationships are the foundation of a thriving society. Unfortunately, many couples and families lack access to professional support when conflict, trauma, or transitions occur.

This diploma trains professionals to provide specialized counseling interventions that restore communication, rebuild trust, and foster healing in families and intimate partnerships. Graduates leave with both practical tools and deep insight to help clients navigate complex relational dynamics.

What You Will Learn

The program provides a balance of theory, technique, and supervised practice, with topics including:

Foundations of Relationship & Family Counseling – Core principles, history, and ethical practice.
Family Systems & Dynamics – Understanding family roles, boundaries, and generational patterns.
Couple Counseling Theories & Interventions – Gottman Method, EFT, systemic approaches, and culturally adapted models.
Communication & Conflict Resolution – Helping couples and families resolve disputes constructively.
Marriage, Intimacy & Sexuality – Addressing intimacy issues, sexual challenges, and marital stress.
Parenting & Child Counseling – Supporting families in raising emotionally healthy children.
Trauma & Crisis in Families – Domestic violence, loss, infidelity, and family breakdown.
Cross-Cultural & Interfaith Relationships – Addressing cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity in families.
Practical Counseling Techniques – Role plays, case studies, and therapeutic exercises.
Supervised Practicum – Real-world experience in relationship and family counseling practice.

Program Outcomes

By the end of the diploma, graduates will be able to:

Provide professional counseling to couples and families experiencing conflict or transition.
Apply systemic and evidence-based therapeutic models.
Facilitate healthier communication, intimacy, and conflict management.
Support parents in child-rearing, discipline, and family adjustment.
Work ethically and sensitively with culturally and religiously diverse families.
Advocate for healthy relationships and strong family systems in society.

Who Can Enroll?

This program is ideal for:

Aspiring professional counselors specializing in family and relationship issues.
Clergy, pastors, and religious leaders supporting couples and families.
Educators and school counselors working with children and parents.
NGO and community workers addressing family health and welfare.
HR professionals and workplace counselors dealing with marital and family-related employee stress.

Anyone passionate about building stronger relationships and family systems

Program Details

Duration: 12 months (with flexible study options: on-campus and online)
Certification: Diploma in Relationship, Couple & Family Counseling (Chartered Institute of Counseling in Nigeria)
Progression: Graduates may advance to Higher Diplomas, advanced family therapy training, or professional licensing programs.

Career Opportunities After Graduation

Graduates of this diploma will be prepared for rewarding careers in:

Private Practice Counseling – specializing in couple and family therapy.
Marriage & Family Therapy Centers – supporting couples, parents, and children.
Faith-Based Organizations – offering premarital, marital, and family counseling.
Schools & Educational Institutions – assisting children, teens, and parents with adjustment and family issues.
NGOs & Community Programs – strengthening families through counseling and education.
Corporate Wellness Programs – addressing family-related stress that affects workplace productivity.
Government & Social Welfare Agencies – contributing to family development and national well-being.

Why CICN?

As Africa’s leading hub for professional counseling education and licensing, CICN offers a curriculum that blends global best practices with African cultural realities. Our Diploma in Relationship, Couple & Family Counseling is taught by experienced practitioners and academics who understand both the science of family systems and the lived realities of African families.

At CICN, we don’t just train counselors, we raise family builders, peace restorers, and relationship healers who strengthen the fabric of society.

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The Chartered Institute of Counseling in Nigeria is a reputable Counseling Institute, the first of its kind in Africa; affiliated with other professional educational Institutions, Associations, and bodies both in Nigeria and Internationally.

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