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Postgraduate Diploma in Neuroscience-Informed Counselling and Wellness (PGD-NICW)

Programme Overview

​The Postgraduate Diploma in Neuroscience-Informed Counselling and Wellness (PGD-NICW) is a one-year, practice-oriented programme designed to equip learners with foundational counselling skills grounded in contemporary neuroscience.

As mental health challenges become increasingly visible across educational, clinical, community, and workplace settings, there is a growing need for professionals who can integrate psychological understanding with insights into brain–behaviour relationships. This programme bridges that gap by combining evidence-based counselling approaches with a neuroscience-informed lens, while remaining accessible to learners from diverse academic backgrounds.

The PGD-NICW emphasises ethical practice, applied skills, and contextual sensitivity, preparing participants to work effectively within multidisciplinary and real-world settings.

Stuents
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Programme Details
  • Duration: 12 Months
  • Credits: 40
  • Total Modules: 20
  • Delivery Mode: Blended
    • Online self-paced learning modules
    • Live interactive webinars
    • Two in-person intensive workshops (skill-based and experiential)
What Makes PGD-NICW Unique
Neuroscience-Informed Practice

The programme introduces relevant brain-based concepts that enhance understanding of stress, trauma, emotion regulation, learning, motivation, and resilience—directly informing counselling practice without requiring prior neuroscience training.

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Applied Counselling Skills

Strong focus on core helping skills, structured frameworks, ethical practice, and contextual sensitivity across educational, organisational, healthcare, and community settings.

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Real-World Relevance

Case-based learning, supervised discussions, and experiential workshops ensure practical competence rather than purely theoretical exposure.

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Who Is This Programme For

  • Graduates from any discipline seeking structured training in counselling and wellness

  • Working professionals in education, HR, healthcare, social services, and NGOs

  • Aspiring counsellors and mental health practitioners seeking a strong foundation

  • Professionals interested in wellbeing, resilience, and people-focused roles​

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Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, participants will be able to:

  • Demonstrate foundational counselling competencies grounded in ethical practice

  • Understand key brain–behaviour relationships relevant to mental health and wellbeing

  • Identify common psychological concerns and respond within professional boundaries

  • Apply neuroscience-informed principles to stress, trauma, and resilience

  • Design and implement structured wellbeing initiatives

  • Collaborate effectively within referral and multidisciplinary networks

Curriculum Overview
(20 Modules | 40 Credits)

The curriculum is organised into thematic clusters to ensure progressive skill development:

 
Foundations

  • Human Development Across the Lifespan I

  • Human Development Across the Lifespan II

  • Foundations of Counselling Skills

  • Ethics, Boundaries and Professional Practice

 
Mental Health Literacy

  • Mental Health Literacy I (Mood & Anxiety Disorders)

  • Mental Health Literacy II (Psychosis, Personality & Complex Presentations)

 
Counselling Approaches

  • Solution-Focused Approaches

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy I (Foundations)

  • Cognitive Behaviour Therapy II (Advanced Formulation)

  • Third-Wave CBT (ACT, DBT, Somatic-Informed Approaches)

 
Special Populations & Contexts

  • Children & Adolescents

  • Family Systems & Parenting

  • Trauma-Informed Practice

  • Addiction & Behavioural Concerns

  • Career & Workplace Psychology

  • Geriatric Counselling & Cognitive Reserve Wellness

 
Applied & Integrative Practice

  • Crisis Intervention & Psychological First Aid

  • Counselling in Diverse Settings

  • Designing Wellness & Psychoeducation Programmes

  • Setting Up and Sustaining a Mental Wellness Practice

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Admissions & Eligibility
Eligibility

  • Graduate in any discipline from a recognised university

  • Professionals from psychology, education, HR, healthcare, social work, NGOs, or related fields are encouraged to apply

  • Applicants without prior psychology training may be required to complete a short preparatory module

Admission Process

  1. Online application submission

  2. Statement of purpose

  3. Review of academic and professional background

  4. Interview (if required)

Seats are limited to ensure personalised academic engagement.

Fee Structure

The programme fee is structured to accommodate learners from India and abroad:

  • Indian Nationals: ₹1,20,000

  • NRI Candidates: ₹1,30,000

  • International Candidates: ₹1,50,000

Fees may be payable in instalments as per the admission schedule. Details regarding timelines, payment structure, and applicable taxes (if any) will be communicated during the admissions process.

​Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this a clinical licence programme?

No. This is a postgraduate diploma focused on foundational counselling skills and neuroscience-informed wellness practice. It does not replace regulated clinical psychology training where required by law.

Is the programme suitable for working professionals?

Yes. The blended format (self-paced modules + scheduled webinars + two workshops) is designed to accommodate working schedules.

Will there be practical training?

Yes. The programme includes applied exercises, case discussions, role-plays, and in-person workshops focused on skill development.

What career pathways does this programme support?

Graduates may pursue roles in counselling support services, educational settings, HR and organisational wellbeing, NGOs, community mental health initiatives, or further advanced study in psychology.

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Certification

Participants who successfully complete all academic and assessment requirements will be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma in Neuroscience-Informed Counselling and Wellness (PGD-NICW) jointly certified by St. Francis de Sales College (Autonomous), and The NeuroPathways Institute

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Programme Commencement
Next Cohort Begins: July 2026

Core Faculty

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Dr. Tony Sam George, PhD
Programme Director | The NeuroPathways Institute

Dr. Tony Sam George has close to three decades of experience as an Educator, Mental Health Specialist, Leader and Innovator. Dr. George received his doctoral training from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and over his career spanning close to three decades has served on several International and Regional Boards, contributed to building  capacity in developing wellbeing initiatives in India, Mexico, South Africa, Canada, Japan and the United States of America. He frequently consults with nonprofits and has established several nonprofit initiatives in the areas of leadership development, wellbeing and counselling, life skills and digital training and education. He is a fellow of the United Board Higher Education Leadership Programme and trains at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, USA. He has held major research grants with the United States Department of State, the Commonwealth of Australia and the United States Education Fund. Dr. George has designed and implemented effective employee assistantship programmes in multinational companies in India and is a featured keynote speaker at International forums around the world. He has contributed institutional building and programme development in mental health and PSychology in several institutes an dUniversities and served in the capacity of Department chair and Dean in Higher Education. He is the Founding Director of the Neuropathways Institute.

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Dr. Binu Edathumparambil, MSFS, PhD
Principal | St. Francis de Sales College (Autonomous), Bengaluru

Dr. Binu Edathumparambil holds a doctorate in Family Therapy from Saint Louis University, a Postdoctoral Fellowship Training in Child Trauma from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and an advanced training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute and serves as the Principal of St. Francis de Sales College (Autonomous), Bengaluru. An experienced academic administrator and educator, he provides institutional leadership and academic oversight for the PGD-NICW programme. His role ensures alignment with academic standards, quality assurance, and learner-centred pedagogy, while supporting interdisciplinary and socially responsive higher education initiatives.

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Dr. Cathlyn Niranjana Bennett, PhD
Co-Director | The NeuroPathways Institute

Dr. Cathlyn Niranjana Bennett is a consultant neuropsychologist with an interest in enhancing neuropsychological wellbeing. Dr. Bennett has expertise in neurofeedback training, neuropsychological assessment, and intervention.  She completed her doctoral programme at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, India. Dr. Bennett has also completed a Biofeedback Certification International Alliance (BCIA) accredited course in EEG neurofeedback training at the Behavioral Medicine Research and Training foundation, Saybrook University, USA. Dr. Bennett has considerable experience in developing modules to enhance cognitive and emotional wellbeing using evidence based practice and insights from neuroscience.

Why Our Faculty Matters

The PGD‑NICW faculty brings together expertise from counselling psychology, neuroscience, organisational wellbeing, trauma-informed practice, and education. Faculty members combine academic scholarship with real-world professional experience, ensuring learners receive training that is both scientifically grounded and practically relevant.

​Academic & Institutional Collaboration
This joint programme reflects the academic strengths of The NeuroPathways Institute and St. Francis de Sales College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, combining specialised neuroscience-informed training with institutional academic rigour.

Advisory Board

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Dr. Mike Trevisan
Professor Educational Psychology
Dean Emeritus
​Washington State University

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Dr. Stephen Swallow
Cognitive Behaviour Therapist 
Oakville Centre for Cognitive Therapy

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Dr. Jessie Emilion
Cognitive Analytic Therapist
Chair | Association for Cognitive Analytic Therapy (ACAT)
Vice President | British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy

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Dr. Mohan K. Isaac
Professor of Psychiatry
The University of Western Australia, Perth

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Dr. Deepu George
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
UT Health San Antonio

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Dr. David Paul Smith
Psychologist
St. Bernard Hospital, Chicago

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