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Visit our Open Events this October to explore our excellent facilities, meet our staff and chat with current students in a relaxed, informal atmosphere.

Discover your options and find the right course for you.

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Counselling 

In our busy world, more and more people seek counselling for various reasons. Training to be a counsellor can be rewarding, and we offer a range of courses from Level 2 to degree level.

We can help you on your journey to becoming a professional counsellor or develop the skills you need to integrate counselling into your job.

Please note: that online Level 2 course will start from August. Also we are no longer taking applications for the online Level 2 course for this academic year.

Student working in a break out area

CPCAB Counselling Studies - Certificate

This course introduces you to the theoretical approaches to counselling and will give you an insight into working within a counselling agency. As part of this course, you can volunteer to work for an agency in a non-counselling capacity. Applicants to this course must have completed a Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills, equating to a minimum of 75 hours of guided learning hours. This can have been with the CPCAB, our exam board, or that of an approved counselling-based provider or awarding body. An interview will also be required where your suitability will be discussed and either an offer of a place made or a recommendation for our Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills course discussed. Fee Information You may be eligible to have your fees paid in full by the Greater London Authority (GLA) if you live in a London borough, meet the residency requirements and you are unemployed or earn an annual gross salary of less than £28,860 (or an hourly rate of less than £14.80 per hour). If you do not meet this criteria, a fee of £1,200 will be payable for the course. Please note that this criteria applies to the course starting in the 2026/27 academic year and is subject to change for subsequent years.

  • Orpington
  • Multiple Start Dates
  • Level 3
  • Part Time

CPCAB Therapeutic Counselling - Diploma

This course is the final level of therapeutic counselling and covers higher-level techniques and tasks. This course will enable you to provide a therapeutic counselling service within an agency's framework. This is a vocational qualification combining workplace learning and academic study and is designed to meet the requirements of employers in developing counselling, psychological knowledge and skills applicable to the workplace. Learners develop professionally as counselling practitioners, increasing their knowledge and skills in studying and applying various counselling and Psychological models. Applicants to this course must have completed BOTH the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills AND the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies, either provided by the College and the CPCAB or another certificated course by an approved awarding body. This previous training must have been delivered face-to-face or live via virtual classroom modalities equaling 180 guided learning hours (Level 2 plus Level 3). There is no accelerated entry to this course based on other qualifications, such as degrees or diplomas in other fields. Counselling training is unique in its approach to self-awareness, skills-based study and progression, so prior training must come from this field. An Interview is required for ALL candidates. Please make your application online and email us to ensure your application has been received. Please be aware that the fees are payable at the start of each year, there is no fee remission, and the Advanced Learning Loan is not available for this course (other Providers my offer this facility) Fee Information Fully Funded: You may be eligible to have your fees paid in full by the GLA if you live in a London borough, meet the residency requirements and you are unemployed, or you are in receipt of a benefit, or you have a low income (under £27,007.50 gross annual salary) No Funding - Advanced Learning Loan available: If you do not meet the above criteria, you may wish to take out an Advanced Learner Loan for part of the cost of the course. The fee for the full course is £6,600, which is split as follows: Year 1 - £3,300 Year 2 - £3,300 A loan can be taken for £4,670, leaving £965 to pay per year. No Funding: If none of the above apply, the fee will be £6,600 over two years, split as follows: Year 1 - £3,300 Year 2 - £3,300

  • Orpington
  • 09/09/2026
  • Level 4
  • Part Time

Counselling Skills - Certificate

Many people find it helpful and empowering to seek the support of counselling at some point in their lives. People in any situation could benefit from counselling, and those with the correct understanding, knowledge and skills can provide them with support to improve personal well-being This qualification focuses on key counselling skills to enable you to provide support wherever it is required. The course provides you with an understanding of various theoretical approaches, as well as covering the importance of a counselling relationship and helpful interaction techniques. This course does not qualify you to practice as a counsellor and only acts as an introduction to counselling theory. It is suitable for those who wish to increase their understanding of counselling skills and techniques to engage in helpful interaction appropriately. You could use this knowledge to complement an existing role or as a basis for continued study to attain a qualification in this sector, on completion, you can apply for the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills delivered on campus. For information and enquiries regarding campus-based learning and counselling qualifications, please search the course directory again and select the CPCAB course you want to view.

  • Virtual College
  • Various
  • Level 2
  • Part Time

CPCAB Counselling Skills - Certificate

This course is ideal if you want to learn and practise a range of counselling skills for personal or professional use. Counselling skills are essential for various situations and scenarios relevant to various occupations where your interpersonal skills are of the utmost importance. If you work in a teaching or caring role or an organisation where customer and client service is essential, this course can give you the skills to help you perform highly. The skills you will learn can also be applied in personal, family and social situations. This is your first step towards becoming a professional counselling practitioner. Suitable applicants to this course will have completed an introductory course in counselling with a solid experience in self-reflection and self-awareness and working with a peer group in live-taught lessons. Alternatively, applicants will have had robust training/experience in helping fields such as nursing, social work, or mental health services such as Samaritans, CGL, Cruse etc. Fee Information Fully Funded: You may be eligible to have your fees paid in full if you meet the residency requirements and you are unemployed, or you are in receipt of a benefit or have a low income (under £25,000 annual gross salary for non-London residents or £27,007.50 for London residents) Co-Funded: If you meet the residency requirements but don't meet the above criteria for full funding, the fee will be £378 No Funding: If none of the above apply then the fee will be £1,000

  • Orpington
  • Multiple Start Dates
  • Level 2
  • Part Time

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Where can it lead?

Find out more about the jobs available once you have successfully completed a course in this area.

Academic / Guidance Counsellors

£42,005 Potential salary 38 open vacancies

Behaviour Analysts

£35,660 Potential salary 31 open vacancies

Case Workers

£42,179 Potential salary 122 open vacancies

Care Coordinators

£28,456 Potential salary 164 open vacancies

Community Health Workers

£27,160 Potential salary 201 open vacancies

Enrolment / Admission Officers

£42,005 Potential salary 38 open vacancies

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