Diploma in Gender, Sexuality & Identity Counseling

The human experience of gender, sexuality, and identity is diverse, complex, and deeply personal. Yet, in many societies, conversations around these topics are clouded by stigma, misunderstanding, and cultural taboos. The Diploma in Gender, Sexuality & Identity Counseling at the Chartered Institute of Counseling in Nigeria (CICN) prepares professionals to provide sensitive, informed, and empowering support to individuals navigating questions of identity, orientation, and expression.

This program equips you with the skills to work compassionately with clients across the spectrum of gender and sexuality, helping them embrace authenticity, resolve conflicts, and build healthy relationships with themselves and others.

 

Why Choose This Course?

  • Issues of gender and sexuality are increasingly central to counseling and mental health worldwide.
  • Many professionals lack adequate training to address these concerns in culturally appropriate and evidence-based ways.
  • This course offers a balanced, respectful, and research-driven approach contextualized for African realities while reflecting international standards.
  • You will gain the expertise to support individuals, couples, families, and communities in areas often neglected in traditional counseling.

What You Will Learn

Students will explore:

  • Foundations of gender, sexuality, and identity development.
  • Sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE).
  • The impact of culture, religion, and societal expectations on identity.
  • Counseling approaches for individuals experiencing stigma, discrimination, or internal conflict.
  • Intersectionality: how identity interacts with trauma, race, class, and disability.
  • Advocacy, ethics, and professional boundaries in gender and sexuality counseling.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion, graduates will be able to:

  • Provide safe, affirming, and non-judgmental counseling for diverse clients.
  • Facilitate self-acceptance and resilience in individuals exploring identity.
  • Support couples and families navigating issues of orientation or gender.
  • Advocate for inclusion, awareness, and equity in communities and organizations.
  • Integrate cultural sensitivity with global best practices in gender and sexuality counseling.

Who Can Enrol?

This program is suitable for:

  • Counselors, psychologists, and psychotherapists.
  • Social workers, educators, and caregivers.
  • NGO and humanitarian workers engaged in gender and rights advocacy.
  • Health practitioners working in reproductive or community health.
  • Religious leaders and community influencers seeking informed perspectives.

Program Details

  • Duration: 9 – 12 months.
  • Mode: Blended learning (online + in-person seminars).
  • Certification: CICN Diploma in Gender, Sexuality & Identity Counseling.
  • Location: CICN Training Centers & Online Learning Platform.

Career Opportunities After Graduation

Graduates can pursue roles in:

  • Private practice counseling and psychotherapy.
  • NGOs and human rights organizations.
  • Schools, universities, and youth-focused programs.
  • Hospitals, clinics, and community health centers.
  • Policy, advocacy, and social justice initiatives.

 

Why Choose CICN?

  • Nigeria’s leading institute for professional counseling, with international recognition.
  • Pioneering curriculum addressing gender, sexuality, and identity in the African context.
  • Faculty of experienced specialists in gender studies, counseling, and social psychology.
  • Strong emphasis on cultural sensitivity, ethics, and practical application.
  • CICN’s mission to empower professionals who can challenge stigma and foster inclusive communities.

At CICN, we prepare counselors who are not only skilled practitioners but also change agents, able to shape healthier conversations around gender, sexuality, and identity in Africa and beyond.

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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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