Counselling Studies Level 3 Certificate

This course will give you some knowledge of various types counselling theory and how to apply it to client issues. You will also learn about ethics and mental health aspects which will prepare you for work as a professional counsellor within an agency setting. 

• Prepare to work within an ethical framework for counselling
• Understand the counselling relationship
• Understand difference and diversity issues to develop empathic understanding
• Work within a user-centred approach to counselling
• Use counselling theory to develop self-awareness in counselling practice
• Understand theories of counselling and mental health
• Use feedback, reflection and supervision to support counselling studies

This course is validated by the CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body). CPCAB is an organisational member of the European Association for Counselling and their qualifications are internationally available. For more information, the CPCAB website can be accessed on www.cpcab.co.uk. 

The classes are structured with a tutor led element followed by a skills element, where you will put into practice what you’ve learned. 

You will receive one-to-one feedback from your tutor at key points during the course to help you develop your skills and assess areas for development.

Time commitment and independent study

There will be a minimum expectation set for the time spent completing homework tasks and independent study. This is likely to fluctuate at key points during the course, such as before the exam and when working on assignments.

To achieve the Counselling Studies Level 3 Certificate, learners must be assessed as proficient in all seven learning outcomes of the mandatory unit and must be assessed as proficient in both internal and external assessments.

The course has two formal assessment elements and candidates need to be proficient in both to pass the course:

• External exam
• Portfolio of evidence, which will involve a variety of documents including assignments, reviews of your learning and feedback

The expectation from CPCAB is that learners have a minimum of 80% attendance and it is essential learners are able to attend the first session.

• You must have undertaken and proficiently passed a counselling skills training course, e.g. our Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills or an equivalent qualification of at least 75 Guided Learning Hours from another institution. 
  This can be verified by providing: a Level 2 Certificate from a reputable training institution which abides by the Ethical Framework and guidelines set out by a recognised counselling association e.g. BACP. and a portfolio of work
• Minimum candidate age, 19 years old. 
• Ability to translate intra-personal experience into language
• Able to benefit from self-development
• Emotional stability*
• Evidence personal insight
• Ability to form a counselling relationship 
• Awareness of difference and diversity
• Able to cope with course content** 
• Identify reasons for training beyond just personal development 
• Be motivated towards developing as a counselling practitioner

*This qualification is not suitable for those who are currently in a state of severe emotional difficulty and/or severe psychological distress. **The nature of this course involves experiential elements that will involve some personal disclosure and associated personal developmental activities.

Disclaimer: Please note that if an applicant has experienced a significant life event in the last 6 months i.e. Bereavement or recovery from a mental health issue, the college has the right to refuse the application and will recommend deferring due to the demands of the course. This can be discussed at interview.

After qualifying at Level 3, you can apply for the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling which qualifies you as a Counselling Practitioner.

This qualification does not lead to employment. It is designed as pre-practitioner training for professional counselling qualifications, but it could also lead to employment in a related field.