Level 4 Diploma Therapeutic Counselling

This two-year, part-time qualification will provide you with the necessary knowledge, skills, and competencies to work as a therapeutic counsellor in an agency context. If you would love to embark upon a rewarding career in counselling, this is the right course to help you achieve your goal.

This course is designed to lead to an employed or voluntary role in a counselling agency within both healthcare and non-medical settings. If you have sufficient experience, you could even begin working as an independent practitioner in a private practice. The course is delivered one day per week over two years.

The course involves experiential elements and learning that will involve some personal disclosure and associated personal development activities. The course incorporates a minimum of 100 hours formally contracted counselling (one-to-one), with at least five different clients in an agency setting. The course will cover the following units:

• 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.

In addition, you will also complete a distance learning course: Mental Health First Aid & Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace. This is free of charge and will enhance and support your Counselling qualification.

Successful completion of this course will allow you to qualify as a counselling practitioner and apply for higher level qualifications. Please be aware that if your long-term goal is to work in an area with vulnerable adults or any person under the age of 18, it will be necessary to undergo a disclosure and barring services (DBS) check at your place of employment. If you have a criminal conviction this may exclude you from working in some job roles.

The skills and knowledge acquired on this course are transferrable to a wide range of career and educational opportunities.

The college offers a range of flexible learning opportunities to students. Professional qualifications are delivered within our specialist Business School and are supported through digital virtual learning environments and digital learning tools. Our tutors are highly experienced and skilled in their specialist professional sectors and enhance the courses they teach on with their excellent industry links.

You must have obtained both qualifications: Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies, with a previous 180 hours of counselling skills training.

You must be at least 19 years of age to enrol on this course. In addition, you must not be in a current state of severe emotional difficulty or severe psychological confusion, and you must not be currently involved in substance misuse (there is a requirement to be two years’ post rehabilitation).

You need to be able to handle the level of academic work required and show a willingness to take responsibility for yourself. You must be able to respect others regardless of race, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

You will also be required to submit a personal statement discussing your reasons for applying to this course along with a character reference. Furthermore, you will also need to have an interview to assess your eligibility.

For further information about funding, please contact our Learner Services Team on 01925 494400 or learner.services@wvr.ac.uk.

There are significant fees attached to this award and it is important to consider these before you apply. You will be required to obtain an enhanced DBS check and you are responsible for this cost. You are also required to complete 10 hours of personal therapy (fees vary) and monthly clinical supervision whilst in student practice (fees vary depending on the supervisor). You are also required to become a student member of the BACP (current fees can be found at bacp.co.uk)

You are also required to pay the annual registration fees to the awarding body (currently £383).