This is a 10-week part-time programme which covers a range of topics relating to the theory and practice of using counselling skills. If you are just starting out on your journey to a successful career and are eager to learn more about counselling work, the profession and the skills needed to help others, then this is the perfect course for you.

Over the 10-week duration of this course, you will study three different units:

• The professional context of counselling

• Communication skills in helping relationships

• An introduction to personal development

This course provides individuals with a nationally recognised counselling skills qualification. There are learning opportunities to develop your counselling skills and techniques, essential for successful performance as a counsellor. This qualification will give learners the underpinning knowledge, skills and competencies to use counselling skills ethically and safely in a variety of contexts and roles. This is the first level of training as a professional counsellor, it is aimed at those who work in other professional or helping roles or those who want to improve their professional and personal relationships as part of personal development. The course is delivered by fully qualified counsellors with many years post-qualified experience. Learners will gain important insight into the industry. It should be noted that on successful completion of the course learners will not be qualified as counsellors, as level 4 advanced diploma is the required licence to practice.

Please see here for our Standard Entry Qualifications. Please note some of our technical qualifications have different requirements, please contact admissions for further information.

Level 1 in literacy or ESOL level 2 standard

You will be interviewed by the subject teachers and should be enthusiastic about wanting to use counselling skills to support others, and demonstrate appropriate levels of maturity and emotional robustness to do so.

All units are assessed internally by subject teachers. You will be assessed through a variety of assessment methods including discussions, practical skills practice, case studies and written work. The course is graded pass/fail.

On successful completion of this qualification you can progress onto:

• Counselling Skills, Level 3 (Advanced)

• Employment involving the use of counselling skills to support others in e.g. health and social care work, teaching and learning, advocacy and mediation, other helping roles.