This qualification is intended for people who wish to develop competencies to work as a self-employed counsellor in independent practice.

All learners must have successfully completed a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling in order to be eligible to study at Level 5.

The course is designed to develop your knowledge, skills and theory to work as an autonomous counsellor in private practice or agency settings, a senior counsellor in an agency or to teach counselling providing you hold the relevant teaching qualifications.

The overall assessment during this course is made by an ongoing portfolio of work and observations of practice. 

Successful completion of Level 5 also requires a minimum of 60 hours formally contracted counselling (including client assessment). Learners will also be expected to have completed 40 hours of personal counselling by the end of the course.

The course is run one session a month with two full weekends and a residential.

Places are limited.

An interview will be held to establish the suitability of all learners for this course.