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Counselling Skills
Counselling Skills
Level 2
Cheltenham
Course Overview
Part Time
Certificate
Certificate
If you want to become a counsellor the Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills forms the foundation of professional counselling practice as well as providing the essential listening and communications skills used by helping professionals. It is the first compulsory qualification on the CPCAB progression route to becoming a counsellor.
The course may be particularly useful to voluntary workers, welfare staff, health authority staff, managers, personnel and training staff, probation and social services staff, teachers and tutors.
By the end of Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2), students should be able to:
- Use counselling skills ethically and safely
- Manage helping interactions
- Communicate empathic understanding
- Manage an active listening space
- Use self-awareness to facilitate helping work
- Use counselling skills coherently
- Use study skills to help manage learning
Further details can be found at http://www.cpcab.co.uk/qualifications/csk-l2
Learners are required to produce a candidate portfolio and undertake an externally-assessed written paper. In addition to the classroom time, learners should anticipate around 2-3 hours per week of private study time to cover assignments and reading.
Candidate registration fees are payable at enrolment.
And finally - it is important that you realise, and are prepared for, the costs involved in this course - financial, time and emotional. It is a serious course that requires a high degree of commitment and hard work in the areas of theory, personal exploration, self-development and practice. This course is not suitable for those with ongoing mental health problems or with significant changes currently affecting their personal lives (e.g. bereavement, relationship breakdown). Counselling training is not a substitute for counselling or other types of support.
The general progression route for our counselling programme is:
- CSK-L2 Counselling Skills (Level 2)
- CST-L3 Counselling Studies (Level 3)
- TC-L4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (level 4) –OR-
- Foundation Degree in Therapeutic Counselling (level 5) [validated by the University of Gloucestershire]
- The Foundation Degree can be topped up to a Full Degree with a further year at Level 6, e.g. the BSc Hons Applied Social Sciences with the University of Gloucestershire
Finally, there are a number of options available at GC to help you pay for your course fees:
- Setting up a Direct Debit: You’ll be asked for a 20% deposit when you enrol and this can be paid in cash, or by debit or credit card. Course fees must be paid in full by the end of your course so the monthly instalments would be adjusted accordingly e.g. for a one year course you would make 8 payments
- Advanced Learner Loan: Contact Student Services to find out more and whether this course is eligible
- Support for those that are unemployed and in receipt of benefits: Contact Student Services to find out if this course is eligible for funding and whether you are eligible
Class times:
30x week duration September - May
Mondays 9:30am-12:30pm
Intensive 17x week duration September - January
Thursdays 1:15-7:15pm
OR
Fridays 9am-3pm
NEW 20x week duration January - June
Fridays 9am-2pm
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You must be aged over 19 at the start of the academic year.
Once you have submitted your application you will be required to complete a ‘Further Information Form’ as part of your application step’s.
Following completion of the ‘Further Information Form’ applicants are invited to attend a mandatory briefing session to assess their suitability for the course. Typically, these are held during June / July.
The briefing session will give you the opportunity to find out more information on the course and share your experiences and previous qualifications with the academic team.
Please note due to the popularity of our Counselling courses our briefing sessions are selection events. We will be looking for applicants who are ready to embark on training of this nature and we will offer places to those we judge to be most suitable.
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General progression route will be:
- CSK-L2 Counselling Skills (Level 2)
- CST-L3 Counselling Studies (Level 3)
- TC-L4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (level 4) -OR- Foundation Degree in Therapeutic Counselling (level 5) [validated by the University of Gloucestershire]
The Foundation Degree can be topped up to a Full Degree with a further year at Level 6, e.g. the BSc Hons Psychology, Health & Wellbeing with the University of Gloucestershire
However, CPCAB have designed this course as a stand-alone qualification which will be helpful for those currently in or planning to undertake non-counselling roles that involve helping, supporting and/or listening to others (e.g. teachers, support workers, volunteers, helplines, care work, HR etc).
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In recent years, research has proven that counselling is an effective way to help people with mental health problems. Various programmes to improve access and recruit more counsellors mean that it is a good time to consider a career in counselling.
Our counselling courses are incredibly popular with students and highly regarded by employers. The qualification can lead to a professional career as a counsellor but also equips students with listening skills that can be helpful in a wide variety of professional and voluntary roles.
Experience is essential for job applications so, while you’re studying, you can gain practical work experience in a local counselling agency or within our own counselling service. Many of our students have moved on to work for local counselling services or have also successfully started their own counselling practices.
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