Therapeutic Counselling - CPCAB Level 4 Diploma

What the course is about

This two-year part-time qualification gives learners the knowledge, skills, and competencies to work as a therapeutic counsellor, within an agency context in both health care and non-medical settings. This diploma is based on the CPCAB model of practitioner development and therapeutic change. Upon successful completion of this course, the candidates will be able to provide a therapeutic counselling service - initially within the context of an agency's service framework but later (with experience and support from the supervisor, or by completing PC-L5 or its equivalent) may progress to independent practice. Course sessions are weekly over 2 academic years. Dates will be confirmed at the enrolment session and may be subject to change. With others in your class you will cover 7 mandatory units:

• Unit 1 Working ethically, safely, and professionally as a counsellor
• Unit 2 Working within a counselling relationship
• Unit 3 Working with client diversity in counselling work
• Unit 4 Working within a user-centred approach to counselling
• Unit 5 Working with self-awareness in the counselling process
• Unit 6 Working within a coherent framework of counselling theory and skills
• Unit 7 Working self-reflectively as a counsellor

You will develop proficiency as a Therapeutic Counsellor at a counselling placement agency or workplace, under clinical supervision, where you are required to attain a minimum of 100 supervised client hours. A minimum of 40 hours of personal counselling is required throughout the two years of the course; 20 hours per academic year. With person-centred theory at the core, we will explore development of the self, identity, difference and diversity, mental health and ill health, loss and grief and professional practice including risk management and legislation amongst other subjects.

Interspersed throughout the course are major subject and issue specific topics which will be covered including; full day workshops on our inner child; employability; mindfulness; creativity; Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs); identity; difference and diversity; working with mental health and the positive impact of a healthy therapeutic relationship, on well-being and positive mental health, loss and grieving; co-dependency and self-care. We will be covering impact of trauma including Vagal nerve theory. We will look at attachment and stages of development, relating everything back to person-centred theory.

A variety of learning activities will be embraced within the two years. This helps to keep learning fresh, interesting, and challenging. There will be tutor presentation and demonstration, practical application of skills, individual and group work, discussions, Q&A, internet research, individual research, case studies, topic research and project work, PD group and group supervision. Book reviews are a helpful way to support knowledge in relation to the course. There will be a great focus on experiential work and encouragement to trust the process. Your learning will enable you to develop skills and knowledge required for work. There may be vocational specialist guest speakers, or employers, invited to share their skills and experience. Employability skills and developing a deeper self-awareness is key and is woven seamlessly throughout your time with us.

Regular home study will be essential to successfully complete this course. You will be supported to develop good study skills and independent learning. You will have one-one tutorials with the same tutor every 6-7 weeks, lasting for 30 minutes. There will be assignments set for home-study when the opposite group are attending tutorials. These will be uploaded to the tutors by 5pm on the study day. Your tutors will also support you to improve your English and maths skills alongside your learning of your vocational subject. This will include assessing your current skills and planning learning activities related to your subject that are designed to develop your skills in these areas. To support this, you may undertake some e-learning modules, where appropriate, as homework.

Client work requirements: A minimum of 100 hours of formally contracted counselling are required (one-to-one) with at least 5 different clients in an agency setting. Candidates are required to find their own placement and appropriate supervision to undertake client work. The lead tutor will approve placements, supervisors, and therapists. Your personal therapy is completely confidential; we only require proof of hours completed. The placement client work ideally must start at the end of year one so that you have sufficient client work experience before progressing onto year two. You will have an interview with the lead tutor, to access your readiness to begin placement.

Acceptance onto year 2 is not automatic. You will have completed your academic work, regularly and on-time. You will have secured a placement and have completed 20 hrs of personal counselling. You will have demonstrated a willingness to be reflective and develop your self-awareness as well as the ability to develop from robust and balanced feedback.

Supervision in the form of either group or one-to-one supervision, to meet CPCAB minimum requirements. Three supervisor reports will be required; 1st at less than 20 hours client work; 2nd at less than 70; final report at 70 plus hours.

Personal counselling candidates need to have completed a minimum of 40 hours of personal counselling with a therapist approved by Skiills & Learning. This needs to be completed by the end of the course with 20 hours completed by the end of year one. Please note that the personal counselling requirement is self-funded.

If you have declared at enrolment that you are unemployed, you may be invited to meet with an Information, Advice and Guidance Officer or employability member of staff, to identify other learning opportunities that will support you to secure employment or improve your employment prospects. We highly recommend that you engage fully in any other learning opportunities that we help you identify.

This is a vocational course leading to a qualification, and our Service is subsidised by public funding. You will be required to complete all the necessary coursework, assignments, and exams by the given deadlines. Please note, that if you do not successfully complete the course within the academic year, you will not be able to repeat it at the subsidised fee. For further information on the syllabus for this course please go to https://www.cpcab.co.uk