This introductory Counselling Skills Level 2 Certificate programme is a part-time course where you’ll learn a variety of listening and responding skills which will enhance your interaction with others.
This counselling course is highly interactive, combining formal teaching with individual, small group and whole group activities.
This qualification is for those:
- starting the first level of training as a professional counsellor
- who want to learn counselling skills in other professional or helping roles
- who want to improve their professional and personal relationships as part of personal development
- wanting to complete the Level 2 and 3 course in one year to gain entry to the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Intensive course only).
The awarding organisation for this course is NCFE.
You may be able to study this course FREE of charge, subject to meeting the criteria.
Eligibility Criteria – this course may be FREE if you:
- are aged 19+ and live in England, not within a non-funded postcode region
- have the right to live and study in the UK (funding eligibility rules apply)
- if you are in the UK on a visa, it must allow you to study and must not include any study restrictions
- are not current enrolled on an apprenticeship
- are unemployed, or earning below approximately £25,750 per year (evidence required)
Please note:
Funding eligibility is subject to Adult Skills Fund rules and may vary depending on your location and individual circumstances.
Please contact our enrolment team for more details.
What you'll learn
During the course you will learn:
- how to work safely and ethically in a helping session
- how to arrange and manage a helping session
- the role of difference and diversity and how these can influence a helping session
- the importance of self-awareness in counselling
- a variety of listening, responding and attending skills
- how to give and receive constructive feedback
The awarding organisation for this course is NCFE. Learn more about Level 2 specifications.
How you'll learn and be assessed
This course is 18 weeks in duration and each session is 5 hours (Wednesday 9.30am-3.30pm). The classes are structured with a tutor-led element followed by a skills element, where you will put into practice what you’ve learned.
You will receive one-to-one feedback from your tutor at key points during the course to help you develop your skills and assess areas for development.
Time commitment and independent study
Homework will take approximately two hours per week, however this will increase at key points during the course, such as when producing the two required assignments.
The course has two formal assessment elements and candidates need to be proficient in both to pass the course:
- portfolio of evidence, which will involve a variety of documents including two assignments.
- reviews of your learning and feedback.
Progression
After qualifying at Level 2, you can apply for the NCFE Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies . The intensive Level 3 will follow on directly from the Intensive Level 2 course. Learn more about Level 3 specifications.
This qualification does not lead to employment. It is designed as pre-practitioner training for professional counselling qualifications, but it could also lead to employment in a related field.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements however, following application to the course candidates will be contacted by a member of the counselling team to ensure that those joining are able to meet the academic and emotional demands of the course.
Eligibility Criteria – this course is FREE if you:
- are aged 19+ and live in England, not within a?non-funded postcode region
- Do not have one of the following visa types:
- Student visa
- Holiday/visitor visa
- Skilled worker, health care worker, temporary worker, Global mobility or scale up visa
- A visa that imposes restriction on study
- are not currently enrolled on an apprenticeship
- unemployed* or have gross annual earnings below £25,750 (must be evidenced)
*Unemployed students are those who are not working and are in receipt of a benefit or who are using the course to help them find employment.
Please note that the eligibility criteria is different for those living in the Greater London Authority for further information please refer to: Information for Adult Skills Fund providers | London City Hall
