Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills Sept 2025

The Level 2 Counselling course is a starting point to either becoming a fully qualified counsellor or enhancing your listening and communication skills for your role at work, or simply to explore personal development.

It runs for 3 hours, one evening a week over a 14 week period. This qualification will give learners the opportunity to be taught by very experienced counselling tutors who continue to work in the counselling industry, bringing lived experience into the sessions.

It is a popular part-time course, with up to 28 students places available. It has a strong focus on the Person Centred Approach alongside a practical introduction into developing the use of counselling skills underpinned with theoretical knowledge.

Learners also get the opportunity to develop a greater understanding of themselves, increasing self awareness and confidence. Even if learners do not want to pursue a career in counselling, this course will develop learners communication and listening skills along with Literacy and English and Information Technology skills.

This course is for you if you want to:

Learn about three theoretical approaches in Counselling – Person Centred, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Become part of a group of learners who work together in the classroom to gain confidence in academic learning, discussions, debates and practicing a range of skills related to counselling.

Understand and explore your own relationships, as well as delving into the counselling relationship.

You will cover 4 main units on the Level 2 Course:

• Unit 1 – Learning and practicing core counselling skills and setting boundaries. Practical skills are fully supported by your experienced tutor.

• Unit 2 – An introduction to three theories of counselling, the Person-Centred Approach, the Psychodynamic Approach and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

• Unit 3 - Equal opportunity issues and Ethics – with the opportunity to examine the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy Ethical Framework for good practice.

• Unit 4 - Personal development and reflection record. Identifying strengths, weaknesses, values and beliefs and goals for the future.

The objectives of this qualification are to help learners may progress onto the Level 3 Diploma in Counselling Skills and progress onto a role in which counselling skills are used.

The opportunity to enrol on to Level 3 Diploma in Counselling is available at this college, following on from the Level 2 Course.

To access Level 3 – it is essential to develop your counselling skills, with a professionally qualified counselling tutor – which is what we offer at East Durham College.

By coming into college, being in the classroom and working with your fellow students practicing counselling skills with guidance from an experienced tutor will enhance your ability to become a good listener.

None - there is no specific recommended prior learning but those wanting to pursue a career in counselling will need 4 GSCEs at grade C (4) or above, 2 need to be in Maths and English Language, to gain entry on to Sunderland University's Foundation Degree in Counselling.

Our entry requirements are in place to support our students in achieving the qualifications they have chosen to study. In addition to the entry requirements, all students will be regularly assessed by East Durham College at an early stage in their study programme. This is to ensure that students are enrolled onto courses which suit their abilities – following assessment, there may be occasions when students are transferred to a relevant course at a higher or lower level in order to ensure they are enrolled on to the right course for them to achieve and progress.

Entry onto any course at EDC may have entry requirements in addition to exam results; this includes but is not limited to DBS checks, references, fitness to practice and at times physical requirements to be capable of achieving the practical elements of the course without assistance. Entry onto any course at East Durham College is subject to final approval from the Assistant Principal.

Work is assessed by completing a portfolio – marked throughout the course by your tutor. You also have access to the Learning Resource Centre, tutorials if needed and extra learning opportunities.

September 2025.

3 hours per week, 14 weeks.