How do I become a professionally accredited counsellor?

The route you take to becoming an accredited counsellor will depend on your current level of qualification and whether you pursue an 'academic' or a 'training' route.

If you have no experience or training

Does this apply to me?

• This information applies to you if you are starting from scratch, i.e. you:
• have not completed any previous introductory counselling courses or counselling related courses (like a psychology degree)
• do not already work in a relevant occupation (like teaching, youth work or nursing)
• have had no personal counselling or therapy

If the above criteria apply to you, to train as a professionally recognised/accredited counsellor you have the following two options:

Option 1: Year 1 of the Certificate in Counselling and Counselling Skills Course

• This is our Introduction to Counselling, which is Module 1 (and Year 1) of the two-year Certificate in Counselling and Counselling Skills.
• There are no entry requirements for this course.
• You can attend classes either in the evening, or during working hours.
• Students attend one two-hour class a week for an academic year (October to July).
• Once you successfully complete Year 1, you can take two possible routes:
• Continue into Year 2 and complete the full Certificate in Counselling and Counselling Skills, which will allow you to progress to the professional training of MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy.
• Apply for the professional training of the Foundation Degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

Option 2: Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling and Organisational Dynamics

• The Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling and Organisational Dynamics is an intensive psychodynamic course.
• Applicants are selected by individual and group interviews.
• The course is best suited to those who have some knowledge and/or experience of psychodynamic counselling or therapy, and are willing to take up relevant counselling-related paid or voluntary work.
• It provides an introduction to individual psychodynamic counselling, and to group and organisational dynamics.
• Having successfully completed this course you may apply for a professional training in the MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy or the Foundation Degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

If you have some experience or training

Does this apply to me?

• This information will apply to you if you have some experience, i.e. you:
• have already done a previous counselling course or counselling related training (such as a psychology degree)
• have relevant experience in paid or voluntary work
• have had some personal counselling or therapy

If the above criteria apply to you, the following four options will allow you to train as a professionally recognised/accredited counsellor:

Option 1: Direct entry to year 2 of the Certificate in Counselling and Counselling Skills

• Direct application to the Certificate in Counselling and Counselling Skills is especially recommended if you are unsure just which counselling or therapeutic modality (e.g. psychodynamic, person centred, gestalt) you wish to specialise in.
• The course covers the person centred and psychodynamic approaches in some depth, a term is spent on each, and some other approaches – including CBT – more briefly.
• The course is taught by one three-hour class a week for an academic year (October to July), in addition to one Saturday School each term.
• You can study either in the evening or during working hours.
• Having successfully completed the Certificate you may then apply for the MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy or the Foundation Degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Option 2: Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling and Organisational Dynamics

• The Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling and Organisational Dynamics is an intensive psychodynamic course.
• Applicants are selected by individual and group interviews.
• This course is usually only suitable if you have some knowledge and/or experience of psychodynamic counselling or therapy, and you already have or are willing to take up a relevant counselling related paid or voluntary work.
• It provides an introduction to individual psychodynamic counselling, and to group and organisational dynamics.
• It is a more expensive course than the Certificate in Counselling and Counselling Skills because it involves two tutors for the one class and includes a weekend of experiential study about the dynamics of groups and organisations.
• It is taught in one weekly class, which is on Wednesday evenings at 6 to 9.30pm.
• Having successfully completed this course you may apply for a professional training in the MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy or the Foundation Degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.

Option 3: Foundation Degree in (Short Term) Psychodynamic Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

• The minimum entry requirement for the Foundation Degree in Psychodynamic Counselling and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is that you complete the Introduction to Counselling i.e. Year 1 of the Certificate in Counselling and Counselling Skills or its equivalent (60 contact hours including counselling theory and skills practice).
• However, we would recommend that you complete the full two-year Certificate course before applying for the Foundation Degree.
• If you already have a relevant degree, we usually recommend that you apply for the MSc.
• The Foundation Degree is taught two evenings a week over three years, but you will need to have at least a day a week available for training placements in the second and third years.
• You will need to take up personal psychodynamic counselling/therapy approved by the course at least from the second year.
• You will need to have some preliminary knowledge of psychodynamic counselling and CBT.
• Having successfully completed the Foundation Degree you may progress to an MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy. This progression involves a top-up for the BSc Honours which begins in term 3 of the third year of the Foundation Degree, and a further fourth year, after which you may progress to a two-year MSc.
• Having successfully completed the Foundation Degree, the Honours top-up and the MSc, you will have a substantial training in short term psychodynamic counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy and longer term psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Option 4: Direct entry to an MSc programme

• You may apply direct to the MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy, which will train you to work with adult clients, or the MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling with Children and Adolescents, which will train you to work with children and adolescents.
• We usually recommend that you complete either the two-year Certificate in Counselling and Counselling Skills or the one-year Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling and Organisational Dynamics before applying to the MSc courses. However, the MSc in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents will consider applicants who have less preliminary counselling course experience particularly if they have relevant work experience and can demonstrate an understanding of psychodynamic counselling.
• These MSc courses are delivered during the day time over three years, requiring a minimum of one day per week and then at least another day a week once training placements are commenced in the second year.
• Personal psychodynamic counselling or therapy, approved by the course, is also required in the second and third years of the MSc courses.

Find out more about our clinical training courses