This is a 1-year part-time programme which covers a range of topics relating to the theory and practice of using counselling skills. It develops a repertoire of interpersonal skills and counselling skills, promotes personal growth, and provides essential industry knowledge to help learners make informed career decisions. You will study four different units:

• Understanding the context for the use of counselling skills

• Understanding counselling theory

• Using counselling skills

• Personal development for users of counselling skills

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 intermediate level of training as a professional counsellor and is a prerequisite for admission to the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. 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 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.

Learners should have already completed the Level 2 Award in Counselling Concepts (or equivalent) including face-to-face skills practice and, to meet with the academic demands of assessment, have at least functional skills level 1 in English, or should be at ESOL level 2 standard. Learners will be interviewed by the subject teachers and must demonstrate the emotional maturity to undertake experiential learning and self-awareness exercises, which will be demanding of the self in interaction with others.

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:

• Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, Level 4 (Higher)

• 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.