Therapeutic Counselling Training
Humanistic and Integrative Therapeutic Counselling for Adults, Children, Young People, Families and Communities.
Introduction and overview of the training over four years
This is a four-year training course in therapeutic counselling for work with adults and children, due to start in September 2027. There are four qualifications which are awarded with distinct exit routes. The final year enables completion of professional qualifications as a Humanistic and Integrative Therapeutic Counsellor. All four years must be completed for professional recognition in therapeutic counselling across the life course.
This approach to therapeutic education in humanistic and integrative therapeutic counselling enables students to participate in a relational and developmental learning journey. This training provides the knowledge and skills for professional qualifications in therapeutic counselling. We provide a culture of support which is inspirational for learning so all our students can succeed.
The course includes 90 days of in-person contact time as well as placements with adults and children. Additionally, individual therapy and supervision enable personal and professional development. In years three and four there are 60 hours of online learning in supervision groups (30 hours each year).
The fifteen modules and assessments are aligned with the SCoPEd Competencies Framework (Column B) and nationally recognised core competencies for work with children and young people.
There will soon be opportunities available to visit the Village, apply, participate in experiential group work and interviews, as well as meeting the staff team.
Full course details
Qualifications and exit routes, modules, assessments and fees for all four years.
Full course details
Qualifications and exit routes, modules, assessments and fees for all four years.
Qualifications and exit routes
Year One: Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Skills for Adults and Children
Equivalent Level 4
- Module One - Holistic Approaches to the Client in Context
- Module Two - Applied Therapeutic Thinking
- Module Three - Creative and Relational Skills
- Module Four - Safeguarding, Human Development and Wellbeing
Four modules (6 days each) over twelve weekends (24 days).
This foundation stage of the training in therapeutic counselling skills for adults and children enables students to commence learning about the basic principles of professional practice, knowledge, skills and ethical frameworks for therapeutic counselling. Placements are for familiarisation and practice-based learning, being in a supportive role in a professional context. Year one includes becoming familiar with the course philosophy, values and experiential learning. This enables awareness of the implications for the systems for adults at risk and child protection.
Assessments: Principles of Professional Practice Viva; Vignette Presentation; Therapeutic Counselling Skills Facilitation; Safeguarding, Human Development & Wellbeing Interview; Eight Journal Entries (1,500 words each).
Year Two: Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Skills in Professional Context
Equivalent Level 5
- Topic Five - Multi-disciplinary Perspectives
- Topic Six - Creativity and Wellbeing
- Topic Seven - Research and Evaluation
- Topic Eight - Creative Approaches to Community Wellbeing
Four modules (6 days each) over twelve weekends (24 days).
In year two, students can commence professional placements as trainees to gain knowledge, understanding and skills to apply in organisations with both adults and children. The training evolves through practice-based learning and assessments to evaluate students' therapeutic work in progress, including understanding of mental health systems, interdisciplinary and multiagency practice. Placements can commence when the student has been able to evidence the personal readiness required for working safely and therapeutically with the emotional intensity of painful life experiences. Students can also offer therapeutic mentoring, key-working or creative group work, applying therapeutic counselling skills through a range of meaningful activities within organisations and communities. Year two also enables students to start the process of commencing their own research through a formal written case study proposal and facilitating a community wellbeing project. This curriculum is available on the creative health route and for students not in counselling placements.
Assessments: Multi-disciplinary Consultation; Case Presentation; Case Study Research Proposal; Community Wellbeing Presentation; Eight Journal Entries (1,500 words each).
Year Three: Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling for Children and Young People
Equivalent Level 6/7
- Module Nine - Integrative and Relational Skills
- Module Ten A - Therapeutic Counselling with Teenagers and Young People
- Module Ten B - Case Study Support Children and Young People
- Module Ten C - The Site of Integration: Personal Growth and Community
Four modules (21 days) over twelve weekends, plus fifteen two-hour live online evenings for case study support.
Year three continues to strengthen understanding of the presenting needs and mental health challenges of clients, with consideration of the wider systems of care in statutory, charity, voluntary and independent provision. This promotes leadership through increased understanding of the use of self, autoethnography, and the integration of relational skills in the wider systemic context. Year three can include psychoeducation, engaging with parents or carers, for professional consultation. The course is designed to help students in setting up mental health provision in organisations through therapeutic counselling and facilitating cultural change towards increased emotional wellbeing. Year three supports students in researching the impacts of social injustice on mental health and emotional wellbeing, writing their case studies on children and enabling opportunities for community wellbeing.
Assessments: Case Study Child Therapeutic Counselling (6,000 words); Social Injustice Presentation; Advanced Facilitation Therapeutic Counselling; Professional Profile Presentation and Interview; Two Journal Entries (1,500 words each).
Year Four: Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Therapeutic Counselling
Equivalent Level 7
- Module Ten C - The Site of Integration: Personal Growth and Community
- Module Ten D - Principles, Values and Ethics in Therapeutic Counselling
- Module Ten E - Preparation for Professional Practice in Therapeutic Counselling
- Module Ten F - Advanced Theory and Practice: Therapeutic Counselling with Adults
Four modules (21 days) over twelve weekends, plus fifteen two-hour live online evenings for supervision groups.
Year four consolidates the student's journey and enables heightened awareness of the principles, values and ethics required for professional independent practice. This includes working specifically with teenagers and young people with awareness of complex presenting issues, intersectionality and the challenges that they can face in contemporary context, continuing to enhance critical and compassionate self-reflexivity through personal therapy, autoethnographic research and presentation, self-audit, and evaluation of professional practice. This consolidation phase enables a thorough integration of theory and practice in humanistic and integrative approaches to therapeutic counselling, including preparation for working as an autonomous and self-responsible counsellor in independent practice, with a commitment to transparency and accountability, lifelong learning and supervision. This training enables increased self-awareness, embedding diversity and equity in context, promoting and facilitating cultural change in organisations. It requires students to engage in ongoing case formulation in supervision and a live assessed facilitation demonstrating their humanistic and integrative therapeutic counselling skills in action. Students are supported to fulfil their unique potential as therapeutic counsellors.
Assessments: Essay (2,500 words); Case Formulation (4,000 words); Autoethnographic Research Presentation; Self-Audit, Evaluation and Review in Final Presentation Interviews.
Course fees
£3,750 per year.
Additional costs
- Supervision (minimum 15 sessions each academic year)
- Therapy (minimum 50-105 sessions over the course of the training)
- DBS check
- Personal indemnity insurance
- Travel expenses
- Accommodation (if applicable)
Costs for individual therapy and supervision vary, and may range from £50-£80.
Click here if you would like to find out more about the course content and curriculum covered.