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Counselling courses

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Counselling courses

Our counselling courses prepare you for a career that makes a real difference. Whether you're a newcomer to counselling or a professional looking to expand your expertise, our flexible learning platform adapts to your schedule, allowing you to grow your counselling skills at your own pace.

Find flexible courses across all popular disciplines, including grief counselling, counselling children and cognitive behavioural therapy. Start today to gain the qualifications needed for a rewarding career in counselling.

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Careers in counselling

Today, there’s growing recognition of the importance of mental well-being and this shift has created a pressing need for compassionate, qualified counselling professionals.

If you have a natural inclination to listen and support others, a career in counselling could be for you. Our counselling courses prepare you to work with individuals and groups, equipping you with the tools to make a profound impact on people’s lives.

As a trained counsellor, you'll play a crucial role in helping clients navigate past traumas, overcome present obstacles, and build resilience for the future.


Our counselling courses

Our comprehensive offering of counselling courses covers every discipline and niche that you may want to specialise in. We offer qualifications in areas such as:

  • Addiction Counselling
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
  • Counselling Children and Adolescents
  • Drugs and Alcohol Abuse Counselling
  • Grief Counselling
  • Life Coaching
  • Understanding Abuse and Trauma

Studying a counselling course online

Flexible learning: Study at your own pace and convenience.

Expert tuition: Receive support from experienced tutors.

Career guidance: Access resources and advice to help you advance your career.

An online counselling course enables you to seamlessly integrate your studies into your current lifestyle, allowing you to manage your responsibilities while working towards your career aspirations. With no commute required and the absence of a set timetable, you have the freedom to study at your own pace, whenever and wherever is most suitable for you.

Course structure and content

Our courses are structured to provide a clear and progressive learning path. You'll explore a variety of topics, including:

  • Counselling skills and approaches
  • The counselling relationship
  • The history of counselling
  • The person-centred approach
  • Behavioural approaches

Certifications and qualifications

Our array of counselling courses offers a learning path for both beginners and advanced practitioners. Our counselling courses are endorsed by respected bodies including QLS, ACCPH and CACHE, allowing you to meet industry standards and gain the knowledge base for a thriving counselling career.

QLS courses: We offer QLS Level 2, 3, and 4, for individuals requiring the knowledge and understanding to work as counsellors.

ACCPH approved: We offer counselling certificates approved by ACCPH, a recognised counselling body that endorses courses that meet a high-quality of training.

CACHE qualifications: We offer CACHE diplomas in counselling skills. CACHE certificates are amongst the most highly regarded in the education and care industries.

Study format

Our counselling courses offer complete flexibility and you can study anytime, anywhere. All of your materials will be posted or emailed to you and you will also receive tutor support by email, so help is only a click away.

Our courses have a generous one or two year completion deadline; this is more than enough time to complete the modules, removing the stress of rushed deadlines.

We offer two delivery methods for your counselling course, study pack and online, to allow you to learn in the way that suits you best.

Study Pack: If you choose to purchase a study pack you will receive all of your study materials in printed format, along with a study guide, an OSC pen with a highlighter, a study planner and a notebook.

Online: Or, choose to study online and you’ll receive access to Ohana, our bespoke learner portal, within 24 hours of your order being processed. This houses all of your study materials in electronic format.

Support and resources

We are committed to your success and our dedicated support team is available to assist you throughout your studies. You'll have access to a wealth of resources, including:

  • Online learning platform with interactive materials
  • Study guides and tutor-marked assignments
  • Career advice and job search support
  • Mentorship opportunities

When you enrol on a counselling course with Open Study College, you gain access to unlimited tutor support via email. Your tutor will be available to help you with any questions you may have, whether they pertain to your assignments.

You can rest assured that your tutor will help guide you through your studies and provide valuable assistance to address any queries you may have, ensuring that you receive the support you need to excel in your academic pursuits.

All of our tutors are subject specialists within the counselling industry so you can be assured that you will have the support that you need when you need it.

Frequently asked questions

There are many reasons to consider taking a counselling course. For starters, counselling is a rewarding and fulfilling career that allows you to make a real difference in people’s lives. As a counsellor, you can provide support, guidance, and a safe space for individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Additionally, counselling skills are useful in many other professional and personal settings, such as teaching, healthcare, and personal relationships. Finally, the demand for qualified counsellors is on the rise, with many job opportunities available in a variety of sectors. By pursuing a counselling course, you can gain the skills, knowledge, and credentials to make a positive impact.

Most of our counselling courses have no formal entry requirements. However, advanced courses like our Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Person-Centred Counselling require a Level 3 qualification. Please check individual course pages for specific entry criteria.

The length of time it takes to complete our counselling courses depends on the level of the course, but most courses take about 80-100 hours to complete. More advanced courses, such as the Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills, will take around 400 hours to complete.

Cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling are two forms of therapy with distinct approaches. CBT is shorter-term and teaches specific techniques to manage and change negative thought patterns. It’s often used for mental health conditions like anxiety, depression and OCD.

Counselling can be short or long-term, depending on the client’s needs, and it explores a wider range of personal issues. The counsellor talks to the client about the feelings and past experiences to get to the bottom of underlying issues, or address personal growth.

No, a career in counselling doesn’t require a traditional degree, but you will need training and practice experience. To become a qualified counsellor without attending university, you’ll have to complete an accredited course and then gain some hands-on experience.

At Open Study College, we offer a range of counselling courses at different levels, from introductory to advanced. The price of our counselling courses varies depending on the level and duration of the course. Our introductory courses start at around £389, while our more advanced courses can cost up to £1,799. We also offer flexible payment options to make our courses more flexible and accessible.

Yes, you can do a counselling course online with Open Study College. We offer a range of online counselling courses, which you can study from the comfort of your own home. They are designed to be flexible and allow you to fit your studies around your other commitments. You will have access to online course materials and support from our experienced tutors throughout your studies.

Looking to speak to an adviser?

We are delighted that you are considering joining us to study and take pleasure in welcoming you to our family.

Open Study College is one of the UK’s leading distance learning colleges. We provide professionally recognised counselling courses that enable you to study at your own pace, in your own environment either online or via printed materials sent to your home.

We understand that choosing a course is a big decision. That’s why we have a team of friendly, knowledgeable education specialists that can help you choose the right bookkeeping qualifications for you.

Over the past 17 years we’ve enrolled over 130,000 people on courses that have improved their education and their career prospects!

Our education specialists can answer any questions you may have, talk you through our finance options and get you enrolled over the telephone.

As a family-founded college, we think of our learners as extended members of our family. We’re all here to help you achieve your goals in life, whatever they may be.

If you’d like to speak to an education specialist about our online Counselling courses, simply complete the form here and you’ll get a call back at the requested time.

Get in touch

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