What modules are covered?

DIPLOMA  IN THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING TC-L4

Ethos of the course

Although we as individuals are alone, we all live in the world through a complex set of relationships. From the moment we are born the relationships with those around us influence our development: first, our immediate and extended family, then teachers and peers, lovers, partners, employers, friends, enemies and colleagues.  Later we may create relationships with our own children.

Each one of these relationships has the potential for enormous joy and great hurt. Who we are reflects all that has moulded us in both positive and hurtful experiences. We carry the scars and patterns of those experiences and those ways of relating into the present, often unconsciously.

Counselling happens in relationships i.e.. the relationship between counsellor and client and counsellor and supervisor. The client/counsellor relationships offers the safe boundaries to explore ourselves, our hurts, our fears with a person who themselves is formed and damaged by life in relationships but is prepared to be with the client in ways that help and heal. The counsellor is committed to examining and learning about themselves in order to be available for the client.

Each one of us is unique and valuable whatever our personal history, ethical and cultural backgrounds and is entitled to understanding, and respect as fellow human beings.

The important elements of the Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling therefore include:

• Learning about self and our internal conflicts.
• Learning about personal history and our ways of relating.
• Learning to be in a relationship with another (The client).
• Learning to facilitate change in ways that respect individual difference, values and experience.
• Being prepared to explore our own no-go areas in order to offer clients the space to explore vulnerabilities and patterns of relating.
• Engage in self-directed learning and develop personal responsibility for learning.

Course Aims

• To encourage the growth of individual self-awareness by providing a supportive environment.
• To encourage students to develop their own style of facilitating change for clients in a therapeutic counselling relationship, stressing the need for consistency and coherence.
• To enable students to knowingly integrate theory into practice.
• For tutors to model professional and ethical behaviour in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework.

This course aims to convey the absolute necessity of clear ethical boundaries and the need for professional conduct in order to ensure the safety of the client and the integrity of the profession.

This course offers an integrative approach to counselling and therefore includes sessions on:

• Person Centred Approach
• Psychodynamic Theory
• Humanistic Theories
• CBT
• Existentialism

How will I be assessed?

A portfolio containing evidence of role play, learning review, self-assessment, audio and video taping, self-directed lectures, self-development groups, written assignments, peer and tutor feedback, supervisor’s report, agency report, external assessment in the second year.

What training will be provided?

Student requirements

• Students need to attend the course on a Tuesday for the first year and Thursday for year two for 3 x 12 weeks in term time only. 9.15am - 5.00pm.
• Students are required to engage with independent study to meet the complete course assignments - this includes keeping a Learning Review throughout the 2 years.
• Each student must complete a minimum of 60 hours of personal counselling during the two years, with a counsellor approved by the College; the cost of personal therapy is not included in the course fees.
• Each student must complete 100 hours of supervised client work, during the two years of the course, in an ethically suitable placement approved by the College.  Every possible help will be given to support students in this as part of their professional training.  The College students need to be in a placement by Easter of Year 1 in order to complete course assignments and to go through to Year 2.
• Each student will need to arrange for supervision of placement work on a 1:6 ratio (i.e. one supervision session for every 6 counselling sessions undertaken), but not less than the BACP requirement of 1.5 hours per month. Supervision should not be from a line manager and the cost is not included in the course fees.
• Each student needs to arrange his or her own student membership of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) and their own professional liability insurance before commencing a placement.
• Students are required to achieve a basic level of tutor assessed skills competence before starting a placement.
• Each student needs to submit satisfactory reports from their external supervisor and agency manager in addition to meeting all course requirements, in order to qualify for this award.
• Students need to be aware that this level of training can cause personal and inter-relational stress and that upon completion of the qualification paid counselling work cannot be guaranteed. 

What Next?

Advanced Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling

Upon successful completion of this course students will gain a recognised counselling qualification for agency level work and will have completed sufficient training hours to apply for BACP Accreditation. The student will be able to demonstrate:

• 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

How will I be assessed?

All candidates will need to submit two references, complete a pre-interview task and attend an interview in order to be accepted onto the course.

What previous qualifications and experience will I need?

Applicants need to meet the following criteria to qualify for an offer on the course:

• To have completed Level 2 and 3 certificates in Counselling Studies & Skills or the equivalent.
• Is engaged in work within an agency offering counselling skills.
• Have started their personal development through personal therapy with an approved therapist.
• Identify reasons for training beyond just personal development.
• Academically & emotionally able to cope with this level of training.
• Ability to work with difference and diversity.
• Possess personal qualities, imagination, intuition, openness and ability to benefit from self-development.
• Ability to form and maintain a therapeutic relationship.
• Have self-awareness, insight, honesty and the ability to make links with own personal dynamics.
• Emotional stability and the absence of personality disturbance.
• Ability to challenge and be challenged.
• Ability to respond sensitively and empathically to others.
• Provide references and attend the selection interview.