Level 4 CPCAB Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

You must have completed a class room based Level 3 Certificate in Counselling to apply. You will also need to supply the names of two referees, one from an academic source. Every applicant is invited to an interview to assess their suitability for the course. At interview you will need to declare and discuss previous convictions, reprimands, cautions or final warnings. A satisfactory DBS will need to be obtained to enable you to undertake your placement, which is a requirement of the course.

Entry requirements include passes at GCSE for English and Maths at grade 4 or above however equivalent qualifications and/or work experience will be taken into consideration. Applicants without GCSEs will be required to complete initial assessments and may wish to consider the part-time GCSE courses that the College offers both during the evening and daytime.

The course will equip you with the knowledge, skills and competencies to work as a therapeutic counsellor in an agency context. It is designed to lead to an employed or voluntary role in a counselling agency in both health care and non-medical settings. Students with sufficient experience can also begin working as independent practitioners in private practice. You will study 7 mandatory units:

• Working ethically, safely and professionally as a counsellor
• Working within a counselling relationship
• Working with client diversity in counselling work
• Working within a user-centred approach to counselling
• Working with self-awareness in the counselling process
• Working within a coherent framework of counselling theory and skills
• Working self-reflectively as a counsellor
  
  

Successful completion of this course means that the candidates will be able to provide a therapeutic counselling service - initially within the context of an agency's service framework but later (with experience and support from the supervisor, or by completing PC-L5 or its equivalent) they may progress to independent practice.

You will need to undertake a 100 hour placement as part of the course which must be secured prior to progressing on to year two.

Assessment is based on practical and written assignments, presentations, an exam in year two and a placement portfolio.

The tuition fee is the cost for the full two years of the course, you can apply for an advanced learner loan to cover this. The examination/ registration fee is an additional cost (not covered by the loan) and is chargeable each year upon enrolment (£357.00 per academic year).

Additional costs:

• To undertake your placement you will need to obtain a DBS and receive monthly supervision, these may attract a personal cost depending on the organisation you obtain a placement with
• 20 hours of Personal Therapy over the two years
• Membership of the BACP as a student.

Successful completion can be used as evidence towards applying for full membership of BACP and NCS accreditations and could lead on to further professional development in counselling e.g. Masters.

If after reading this factsheet, you are still undecided about the course most suitable for you, please drop in to one of our Advice Events, ring Admissions on 01743 342346 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.