CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills 

Next Course Begins 7th January 2025

Accepting Applications Now - Spaces Available

The course is 90-hours live teaching and will enable progression onto a Level 3 counselling course should you wish to.  

It should be noted that this course alone is not a route to any counsellor's accredited register nor does it fully equip a participant to practice as a qualified practitioner or refer to themselves  as ‘a specialist’ in the  subject matter unless they have other qualifications/training to support this.

Please see course brochure above that contains a lot more details about the course.

Places will only be offered after completion of an application form, written exercise and a successful interview. We are open for application now and so if you wish to apply, please complete the application form and written exercise that is available here.  

Click below to find out more about:

Entry Requirements

• Level 2 or Equivalent in English Language. If you don’t have this level of literacy this does not exclude you from the course, but your written English will be assessed as part of the application written exercise.

• Good IT skills – ability to use Word, fill in proforma templates electronically, attach documents to emails and send, use an online classroom platform, and have a confidential space with good Wi-Fi and lighting.

• A willingness to discuss personal thoughts and feelings with others as part of a group, 1-2-1 with other students and tutors and in writing.

• A willingness to give feedback to and receive feedback from others in the group.

• Be committed to exploring your own values, beliefs and attitudes and examining how you relate to other people.

• Be committed to the learning process and completing the necessary work on time to fulfil the requirements of the course.

• Anyone experiencing any current emotional/psychological problems will not be accepted onto the course.

• Anyone experiencing any life experiences that may be detrimental when studying a counselling course may not be accepted onto the course.

• Minimum Age of 18 years.

Course Content

A large part of the course is experiential learning and observation and involves a commitment to personal development/developing self-awareness.

The course covers 4 modules: -

• Becoming a skilled listener
• Working safely and ethically as a ‘helper’ using counselling skills
• Diversity in helping work
• Developing Self-Awareness
• Introduction to the Person-Centred Approach

Assessment

You will produce an internally assessed portfolio (no external assessment)

Assessment methods include: -

• Weekly reflective journals
• Worksheets
• Assignments
• Tutor and peer skills feedback
• 1-2-1 tutorials
• Group Discussions
• Group Presentations

Additional Study Time

This course does require work to be undertaken in your own time and so prospective students must consider this and the required time commitment outside of taught lessons – as this is a compressed version of the course (24 weeks instead of the usual 30 weeks), the weekly workload will be more - approximately 8-10 hours a week. This may vary for each individual student and may increase slightly when various assignment deadlines approach. It is therefore important that if you are considering applying for the course, that you think about where the course will fit into your day-to-day life, such as employment, family circumstances, health issues, etc. The full fee for the course is payable should you decide to withdraw once the course has begun.

Progression

This is a stand-alone Level 2 Counselling Skills course but progression is available on to the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies which is also offered by NCCS.

Core Text

Ballantine Dykes, Fiona, Kopp, Barry and Postings, Traci. 2017 Counselling Skills and Studies. 2nd ed. London: Sage

Other Suggested Reading

Sutton, J. 2008 Learning to Counsel: Develop the Skills, Insight and Knowledge to Counsel Others, 4th ed. Oxford: Spring Hill House.

Course Materials

You will need pen and paper and your course textbook when attending lessons. To keep costs of the course down, all resources, such as handouts will be sent electronically via an online classroom platfor called Trello. Students are welcome to either print the material or bring tablets/laptops to sessions for course purposes only. You will be required to produce some printed material at times.

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Feedback From Recent Level 2 Courses

"The course has really given me more understanding of others and respect for others views, value and opinions. My self awareness has grown and has challenged me to work my limitation's and to come out of my comfort zone and to be more vulnerable with myself and others."

"The amount of depth and detail the tutor goes into the sessions, how the tutor brings her own experiences to enrich the course content and the thought provoking discussions she often opens all bring this course to life. The course has instilled in me the notion that counselling is not just something to learn or a career to enter into, but that it is a way of life and a way of engaging with life."

"Great year learning with a great group, felt like a safe environment to learn in."

"I found the course to be a great experience with plenty to learn about counselling skills and myself through the self-awareness aspects of the course. Tracey was a fantastic, patient and supportive tutor and would always welcome any questions or concerns you had. I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to begin their journey as a counsellor, or to better themselves within a role that helps people."

"I really valued this course as an experience and found it really helpful in understanding the skills a counsellor uses and the importance of each of these. The tutor was fantastic and this really helped me to engage with the course."

"Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills was really enjoyable and the tutor support was second to none."

"Studying with Kelly has been one of the most profoundly transformative and insightful experiences of my life. It has forever changed me as a person and I view the world through new eyes now. The course was challenging and involved much soul searching, but I feel I am now reaping the rewards and look forward to continuing my studies. Thank you so very, very much for your enduring support, fantastic teaching and boundless patience!" 

"This is a brilliant course, I have learned so much and grown as an individual in way I couldn't have foreseen, and it was so enriching to go on that journey with a solid group of other people who have all grown and changed throughout the course and form a deep connection."

"The level 2 counselling skills course has been the best opportunity I have ever undertaken. The mix of learning theory, practising skills and self-reflection has been incredible. The tutors and peers on my course were very supportive and friendly. If anyone is thinking of doing the course and unsure, do it you won't regret it."

"A revelatory course with passionate, professional and knowledgeable tutoring. I could not recommend this highly enough"

Excellent course, I found it insightful, empowering, and would encourage everyone to do it even if they don't want to be a counsellor as you learn so much about yourself you can't do anything other than become a better version of you."

"I can wholeheartedly recommend this course. The tutors provide a professional, safe, and welcoming space for participants to learn more about themselves and how they relate to others, as well as the basics of helping work. Doing this course has benefited my personal development enormously and I can't wait to continue to learn more about counselling!"

How To Apply

• Completion of an application form

• Completion of a written exercise and submit this at the same time as the application form

• If eligibility requirements are met, a 30-45 minute interview will be offered using the online platform Zoom

• Only upon successful completion of the interview will a place be offered on the course.

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