Course overview
Our online counselling qualification course will help you learn the important counselling skills required to become a counsellor. If you are interested in helping others and enjoy listening, this is the course for you.
Become a self-employed counsellor on completion of this course, as you will be able to gain insurance and open your own business!
Studying our counselling course from the comfort of your own home provides you with the skills, principles and ethical qualities required to become a competent and successful counsellor.
Job outcomes
- Qualified Counsellor
What you'll learn
In this counselling course you will:
- Begin by developing good practice in a counselling setting, whilst learning how to build a relationship between counsellor and client
- Examine the ethics and moral issues with the counselling process
- Understand the importance of self-development, reflecting on sessions and being self-aware as a counsellor
- Develop a strong foundation of knowledge and competency that can be transferred into your work
- Challenge your perceptions of counselling, giving you ample opportunities to demonstrate your competency and comprehension of the course materials
Recognition

Study method
- Online
- Blended
- In-class
Duration study load
All students are provided with 12 months to complete their course, however, you are able to complete at a faster pace without any additional costs. Some of our students have managed to complete in as little as 3 months!
Entry requirements
The good news is that no prior learning knowledge or experience is essential to take this Counselling course. This Counselling course is openly available to anyone wishing to learn more about counselling and would like to take part in a highly rewarding home study course.
You have the freedom to start the Counselling course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 12 months from initial registration, with full tutor support.
Course features
- Business Start Up Course worth £95 included
- Enables you to study on your own terms – no classrooms, no strict deadlines and no exams
- Allows you to study from home – all course materials will be sent straight to your door, enabling you to fit your studies around your obligations
Assessment
This course is assessed using a series of written assignments that are designed to test your knowledge of the course materials. These will need to be sent to your personal tutor for marking, whereupon they will supply you with helpful tips and feedback. No external examinations are required.
Will I be a counsellor on completion?
Yes, you will be able to practise as a counsellor and gain insurance to ensure that you are covered when providing your service.
Is this a full qualification?
This is a fully accredited course, following the Ofqual qualification framework and certificated by an Ofqual regulated awarding body.
How long will my certificate take to arrive?
Unlike other providers, Association of Learning use a fast-track system to get your certificate to you within six weeks (our average is two weeks).
Subjects
- What counselling is and isn’t
- How counselling differs from other helping skills
- Core skills involved in counselling
- Confidentiality issues
- Exploring the subject of change: its impacts and challenges
- Consideration of Boundaries and Ethics
- Setting goals, planning action – and dealing with resistance
- Ending the counselling skills relationship
- Counselling approaches
- The principles of skilled helping
- The use and effects of questions
- Challenges to clients’ views
- Supervision: its importance in good practice
- Competence in record-keeping
- The importance of Continuing Personal Development (CPD) and taking care of YOU
- Using your counselling skills
- The social atom
- Moreno’s stages of personality development
- Roles and Role Playing
- The auxiliary egos
- Warm up
- Post Action
- Susceptibility to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Causes of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Symptoms of Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Symptoms of Traumatic Stress Disorder in Children
- Treatments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
- The legal implications for counselling
- The Mental Health Acts
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
- Risk Assessment
- Employers’ Liability Compulsory Insurance Act 1969
- General Data Protection Regulations
- The Freedom of Information Act 2000
About Association of Learning
Association of learning offer quality courses which are compliant with current regulations and updated on a regular basis. Our team have a combined knowledge of 25 years in the learning sector, leading the way with progression.
Our systems are built around the latest e-learning technology to provide the best learning experience. If we can't beat our competition, we'll provide your learning free of charge on like for like courses.
Our Mission
“To modernise learning, making it affordable and achievable to all. Increasing quality, connecting people and working hard to make sure our learners complete”