Counselling: Psychotherapeutic - Level 5 Diploma (CPCAB)

This course has been designed by CPCAB to provide you with a comprehensive and in-depth view of integrative counselling, which is grounded in practice, professional, personal development and theory. It will provide you with the opportunity to develop safe practice of the skills of counselling, within an agency setting or private practice, equipping you to take on a senior counselling role in an organisational context where client assessments, referral and routine evaluation are part of the role. Throughout the course, you will evolve your core counselling qualities, which are central to work of the counsellor, broadenening and deepening your responsiveness to the varieties of human experience. 

Topics covered can include: 

• Working ethically and safely as an independent practitioner/senior agency counsellor
• Manage the therapeutic relationship
• Work with difference and diversity
• Work within a user centred approach as an independent practitioner/senior agency counsellor
• Use self-awareness intentionally within counselling work
• Work within a coherent theoretical framework
• Work self reflectively as an independent practitioner/senior agency counsellor

You will need:

• Counselling - Level 2
• Counselling - Level 3
• Counselling - Level 4
• To be a member of relevant professional body (BACP/UKCP) 
• To be a registered member of the BACP

We request evidence of all qualifications. All applicants must have an assessment and interview to confirm that the course is suitable for them.

Demand for this course is very high, we cannot guarantee all applicants a place on the course.

You wiln need to refer to three types of coursework in your portfoliio - documents, tutor observation and testimony - but what does that mean?  Here are a few examples:

• Personal Learning Contract - these are your personal learning goals.
• Lerning Review (Learning Journal)  - This is a regular exploration of your learning - your reflecgtions on the input, discussions, experiences and readings for the course.
• Self-Review - Formal review of your learning where you summarise what you have learnt on the course so far, there a few opportunities over the year for this to happen.
• Essay - Essays are assignments that allow you to explore a topic which is either presribed by your tutor or chosen by yourself. It is your opportunity to show your understanding of the topic, together with discussing and alysing any associated skills that you have developed.
• Tutor Observation - your tutor will provide you with feedback when they observe you practice skills, make a presentation or participate in group activities.
• Testimony - Feedback from your peers - this enables you to receive constructive comments from colleagues.  It needs to be both verbal and written - so that you can reflect on it your learning review and use the comments to help develop your skills. This should also be use to inform your self-review.

There is also an Externally Assessed Case Review (3,000 - 3,500 words) - you must pass this alongside your portfolio to be deemed to be Proficent.

Personal Counselling - a minimum of 40 Hours of personal counselling by the end of the course.  This can include 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. 

Clinical Supervision - this is not always provided by the agencies where you complete client work and you may need to pay.  This can be either group or one-to-one supervision - as per the supervision ratio requirements of your chosen ethical framework or professional membership association.

Progression can be to:

• Foundation Degree in Counselling
• CPCAB Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision (TCSU - L6) plus a recommended minimum 450 supervised practice hours.