This qualification is a one-year course for counsellors who have acquired the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling or its equivalent. Practitioners will enhance their knowledge and skills of counselling and psychotherapy at depth while developing their own philosophy of practice.
This qualification is designed to give learners knowledge, skills, and competencies to establish an appropriate framework for independent practice. It also equips learners to take on a senior counselling role in an organisational context where client assessment, referral and routine evaluation are part of the role. Please note that certification for delivery of this course is pending with CPCAB and expected in May 2024.
There are 7 mandatory units:
Unit 1 - Working safely, legally and ethically as an independent counsellor.
Unit 2 - Working with complex aspects of the counselling relationship.
Unit 3 – Use theory and research to work with client diversity in independent practice.
Unit 4 – Use a coherent approach to respond to the needs of individual clients.
Unit 5 – Work with self-awareness as an independent practitioner.
Unit 6 – Use theory, research and skills within a coherent framework for independent counselling practice.
Unit 7 – Monitor and maintain professional effectiveness as a counsellor in independent practice.
This course has been mapped within the CPCAB qualification to both BACP and OPT competency requirements and combined with TCL4 Diploma in Counselling, or equivalent,
will help prepare for individual practitioner accreditation with BACP as an Accredited Counsellor.
Learners will also have access to participate in specialist workshops taught on the Level 4 Diploma course.
Delivery
Will be in a blended format, with percentage of lessons being delivered remotely , preparing students to practice both face to face and online
Assessment
Assessment will be both external and internal. Assessment and delivery will be provided by core tutors, with additional lecturers and guest speakers offering specialist knowledge.
Internal assessment : You will be expected to build a portfolio. The three assessment methods used throughout the training are – assignments and regular learning reviews, Tutor Observation, and Testimony (from supervisor, agency, peers/tutor) to meet course criteria. You will also be expected to include a critical review of a 15-minute transcript of clinical work.
External assessment : You will be required to write a 3000–3500-word structured case review, which will be externally assessed.
Placement
You will complete 60 hours minimum of one-to-one, formally contracted counselling as practitioner; exercising autonomy in your role as counsellor and carrying the responsibility for assessment. This could be as a senior practitioner in an agency/organisation or working as a private practitioner working for an external organisation, or a counsellor in private practice. You must have Supervision in place for your counselling practice – in the form of either group or one-to-one supervision – to meet BACP minimum requirements.
Personal Therapy
Candidates need to have completed a minimum of 40 hours of personal counselling by the end of the course. This can include documented hours undertaken prior to the start of the course but at least 10 hours of personal therapy must be undertaken during the training year itself.
Course Fee: £1,271.00
Part-time enrolment fee: £40.00
Exam Fee: £389.00
Candidates must have obtained the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) or equivalent. Candidates must be proficient in use of IT and able to access IT remotely for the online sessions. Candidates must have a confidential space in which to participate in online learning and practice sessions. For internal progressing applicants from our Level 4 course, we require a tutor reference of recommendation. For new applicants to CAVC we require an interview, reference from your counselling supervisor and/or course tutor commenting on your suitability for this level of counselling training.
Successful candidates may progress onto further training in counselling and psychotherapy and work towards professional accreditation with the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) or another professional ethical organisation.
Progression into the Open University offers a progression beyond the Level 5 Diploma to Foundation Degree with a modulated programme of study. 120 credits required for Stage 1 of the OU foundation from successful completion of the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and a further 30 credits from further CPCAB Level 5 study plus 90 credits of OU study.
Successful learners may also progress onto the Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision, provided they have acquired at least one year’s part-time post PC-L5 supervised client work.