Certificate Program at FAU: “Counseling and Coaching for the Workplace”
– systemic-integrative, practice-oriented, scientifically grounded –
A collaboration between the Chair of Psychology in the Workplace at FAU and the Systemic Transactional Analysis Institute & Practice (STIP)
In this practice-oriented program, which integrates theory and practice, participants work through concrete case studies from professional contexts under guidance and are introduced to and practice concepts and methods from various schools of thought. Over the course of eight modules, participants learn about process design and counseling techniques and reflect on their own role as counselors. This practical content is complemented by academic insights, including topics such as stress and work-related health issues, workplace bullying and conflicts, as well as leadership and team dynamics. The goal of this certificate program is to harmonize personal development and self-awareness with the role of a counselor.
Target Audience
This certificate program is designed for students and recent graduates in psychology, education, or business administration with a focus on human resources and organization who wish to qualify for work in counseling contexts or in counseling-related, human resources, or psychosocial fields, as well as in corporate training and adult education.
Admission Requirements
- Enrollment or a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a university in psychology, education, or business administration with a focus on human resources and organization, or in a comparable program
- Basic knowledge of clinical psychology and/or industrial and organizational psychology
- Successful application
Modules and Course Content
The certificate program comprises 30 ECTS credits and spans two semesters. The 16 days of in-person instruction are divided among eight modules, which take place in a central location in Erlangen. Optionally, a ninth elective module may be taken as the certificate exam.
- Core competencies and approaches e.g., overview of key approaches, evidence-based interventions, systemic approaches, theories, and models
- Role concepts and professional communication skills e.g., structure and phases of counseling processes, role analysis, and role competence
- Methods and techniques of resource-oriented counseling e.g., solution-focused approaches in counseling and coaching
- Professional reflection and self-management e.g., reflection on personal patterns of behavior in roles and relationships
- Occupational health e.g., coping with stress, burnout symptoms, somatic complaints, and poor work-life balance
- Conflicts, systemic conflict counseling, and mediation e.g., conflict facilitation, systemic conflict management within teams
- Counseling for teams, leaders, and organizations e.g., typical conflict and decision-making situations faced by leaders in change processes
- Systemic career counseling and personal positioning in the professional field e.g., analysis and feedback on potential, learning and development tasks
- Elective module: Evaluation and final thesis with examination e.g., working on case vignettes to assess learning and ensure knowledge transfer
Upon successful completion, participants will receive a certificate of attendance; those who successfully complete the elective module will also receive a university certificate titled “Consulting and Coaching for the Workplace (Univ.)” from FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg. This certificate serves, on the one hand, as proof that professional coaching training was completed as a university-level continuing education program. It also serves as proof that quality standards were met and that the exam was successfully passed.
Leadership and Patronage
- Oliver Watzal: Training Coordinator, teaching in four modules
- Prof. Dr. Cornelia Niessen: Supervisor, examiner
Application Process
If you are interested, please apply via email with a brief letter of motivation and your resume to Prof. Dr. Cornelia Niessen (cornelia.niessen@fau.de) and Oliver Watzal (info@systemische-praxis.org).