Counselling Qualifications explained
In the UK, anyone can call themselves a therapist, counsellor or a life coach, and they may be very good at what they do but unfortunately there are some that cause harm. The easiest way to check if someone is trained to a good standard is to find out if they are registered with a membership organisation, such as:
- BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy)
- UKCP (United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy)
- NCPS (The National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society)
There are other membership organisations but these are the most common ones. If a therapist is registered or accredited it means they have undertaken years of training. The most common route is through a Level 4 Diploma or Degree course.
Please consider there is a risk involved in working with a counsellor who is not a current member of a recognised membership organisation.
Level 2 - Counselling Skills
This is equivalent to GCSE study and is a good introduction to the world of counselling and active listening.
Level 3 - Counselling Studies
Building on Level 2, Counselling Theory introduces more on the theories involved in counselling such as psychodynamic and person-centred counselling, whilst honing listening skills. It's equivalent to A-Levels.
Level 4 - Counselling Diploma (2 yrs part time)
This is the most common route for counsellors to qualify and they must have completed Levels 2 and 3 first. The Diploma is equivalent to the first two years of a degree course. It is an intensive course which prepares counsellors thoroughly.
Once counsellors pass the Diploma they are regarded as qualified to see clients. They may go on to do a Level 5, Level 6 or Level 7 course. Level 7 is equivalent to a Masters (MSc) degree.
Degree level and beyond
Some people choose another route to qualification, e.g. a BSc in Counselling or a specialist course such as play therapy or art therapy.
Some counsellors work towards being accredited (a sign that they have undertaken years of work with clients and reached a certain level) but many choose not to.
All counsellors must undertake Continued Professional Development (CPD) every year to keep up-to-date on the latest theories.