The Bedfordshire Centre for Therapeutic Studies

This qualification is intended for candidates who have already acquired a recognised qualification in counselling skills and want to:

• • take the next step in training to become a counsellor
  • learn more about counselling theory, ethics and mental health
  • be prepared for work as a professional counsellor in an agency setting.

This qualification does not lead to employment as a counsellor. It is designed as a pre-practitioner training for professional counselling qualifications but it could also lead to employment in a related field.

Course outline:

The BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions underpins this training.  There are seven learning outcomes that will be taught in a variety of ways including lectures, small group activities, whole group discussions, student-led presentations, individual reflective writing, DVD’s, exploration via the creative arts and small group skills practice:-

• • Apply an ethical framework to a counselling skills session.  We will be looking more closely at the six ethical principles and how they can be used to support ethical and safe practice.  This will include counselling assessment and referrals.
  • Boundaries and the therapeutic frame; you will learn the importance of boundaries particularly from a psychodynamic perspective and explore how your personal boundaries may affect your professional boundaries.
  • Your understanding of difference, your own prejudices and blocks to empathy
  • Your ability to stay focused on your client’s issues and concerns using active listening to stay within their frame of reference, showing awareness of your implicit process (your own triggers, personal material, assumptions)
  • You will learn more about the structure of your personality, patterns of relating and personal history.  You will have the opportunity to explore your early defence mechanisms, shadow qualities and early relationships as we venture into the work of Freud, Jung, Winnicott, Klein and Bowlby.   There is a one day experiential workshop in term two.
  • Counselling Theory and Common Mental Health problems.
    • • You will gain a deeper understanding of theory: Humanistic and Psychodynamic models and how each of their frameworks underpin the use of counselling skills, the philosophy of the counsellor and how a client’s process is understood.
      • The Mental Health module will include a series of student-led presentations where you will have the opportunity to research a mental health issue of your choice. 
  • Supervision and feedback. You will learn more about the role of supervision and will engage in group supervision.  Feedback is an ongoing and integral part of counselling training where you will both give and receive feedback to your peers.

We use Google Classrooms as a platform for sharing weekly handouts and other resources.  Please also be aware that we embed zoom learning throughout all of our in-person training to support student’s confidence in online counselling skills.  You’ll be notified of which sessions will take place online prior to the start of the course.

Entry Requirements:  

Applicants must be 19 years or older and hold a CPCAB Level 2 Cert. Counselling Skills of a minimum of 90 hours or its equivalent.  Please note that we can’t accept any training that is carried out as distant learning.

We are sometimes asked if prior learning & experience can be accepted.  Please see our Prior Learning & Experience Request Policy.

We include zoom learning throughout all of our counselling trainings in order to support students on all levels to gain proficiency in working with clients remotely.

For fully online students as well as in-person students:- you are required to have a laptop for Zoom learning, have access to a private space and be willing to commit to our Zoom Guidelines. 

Assessment:

You will compile an e-portfolio during the course which will be submitted in the final term.  You will require a Google drive free account to upload all of your work. 

Assessed work includes:

• • Weekly journals of 800 words.
  • Assignments including a self-review, theory essay, a taped transcript and a presentation
  • Tutor feedback and peer feedback
  • Various worksheets (individual and as a group)

There is an expectation that journals and assignments are typed.  At the start of your course you’ll be given a Candidate Guide detailing CPCAB’s seven learning outcomes and you will be well supported by your tutor throughout the course (this can also be found on the CPCAB website under Learners/Useful Documents).

In order to pass the course you are required to have been assessed as proficient in all of the learning outcomes.

Progression routes:

The CPCAB Level 4 Diploma is a two-year, part-time, professional training where learners are in supervised practice for 100 hours, counselling clients 1-2-1.  Learners are also required to have a minimum of 40 hours personal therapy.

Level 4 learners will become student members of BACP (The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists) and upon completion of the course can gained employment as a counsellor and work towards registering on the BACP Register of Counsellor & Psychotherapists.  This register became the first psychological therapists’ register to be accredited under a scheme set up by the Department of Health in 2013.  To join this register counsellors will sit a short computerised exam known as the Certificate of Proficiency.

From here, if they wish, counsellors can work towards accredited status with the BACP.

Applying:

1. Complete the application form and email to info@bedfordshiretherapeuticstudies.co.uk
2. You’ll be invited for a telephone or Zoom interview either as a group or 1-2-1
3. Upon offer of a place you have up to one week to accept your place and pay your deposit of £300 + VAT.  Please note that this is a non-refundable deposit.