The Way Forward Centre for Counselling, Training & Professional Development

counselling, counselling training, psychotherapy training, counselling supervision, training events and continued professional development, Swansea, South Wales, England, UK

The Way Forward Centre CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling TC-L4

The Way Forward Centre, Swansea is a recognised CPCAB Centre

Qualification Number: 500/8088/X

TC-L4 is accredited by the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) into the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF). The CPCAB are dedicated to providing the best counselling and life coaching qualifications. By continually reviewing the latest research into effective counselling the CPCAB guarantee that their qualifications are up-to-date and relevant.


***PLEASE NOTE *** Our September 2025 intake for Level 4 is now full - The application process is now closed (updated 23/03/2024)

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THIS IS A BACP APPROVED PRACTITIONER QUALIFICATION

The Way Forward Centre is pleased to offer the BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification. We are required to evidence the usual CPCAB high standards whilst adhering to additional BACP requirements and expectations. Students enroled on this qualification will be able to register as qualified practitioners with the BACP immediately following successful completion of their Diploma, as long as they meet all the requirements of the course. There will be no requirement to complete the additional BACP certificate of proficiency after the course ends as this will be built into your Diploma and becomes a part of the course rather than being an additional requirement. At the outset of this training you wiill become a student member of the BACP which will enable you to access resources and membership support throughout your studies.


Course Dates

LEVEL 4 DIPLOMA IN THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING TC-L4 BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification:

SEPTEMBER 2024 INTAKE ) Apologies, no longer accepting applications course now full (last update 24/03/2024

  • Please be advised there are limited spaces so early applications are advised in order to secure your place

  • Access to this course is via interview following receipt of a completed application form

  • This is a face to face course only

Start Date Year 1: Thursday September 5th 2024

End Date Year 1: Thursday July 17th 2024

Every Thursday 9.30am until 4.30pm for 36 Weeks

There are no training days during school holidays, the centre follows the Swansea County Council school holiday timetable


THEORETICAL APPROACH

This course is an integrative course meaning the candidate will learn a number of approaches to counselling in order to respond to a wide range of client problems. The overarching integrative framework used is Petruska Clarkson’s 5 Relationships. This perspective aligns well with the CPCAB focus on the therapetuic relationship as a vehicle of change and clear links can be made with the 7 learning outcomes. 

The Core Theoretical Model is Humanistic; being a blend of the Person Centred Approach, Gestalt and Existential Philosophy. In addition candidates will also Learn about other therapeutic approaches: the Psychodynamic Approach, Emotion Focused Therapy, Transactional Analysis, Transpersonal Approaches, Attachment & Development, Neuroscience, Trauma Informed Theory and Narrative Therapy, all of which sit well within Clarkson’s relational approach to integration. Candidates will also learn CBT and solution focused/brief therapy approaches enabling them to work within short term therapeutic expectations, a requirement in most organisational settings and useful whatever career path candidates decide to follow in the future.

The Way Forward Centre regularly invite external enrichment speakers to immerse students in a wide range of professional development such as LBGTQi+, Bereavement & Loss, Counselling & the Law, Safeguarding and specialists in the theoretical perspectives mentioned above.

Candidates will learn to use creative resources , including the use of art and sandtray. At the end of this course candidates will have a clear core theoretical model which is seated in a robust integrative relational framework, with the flexibility to respond to the needs of the client’s they work with. The seeds of Pluralistic Philosophy and Practice are also planted within the fabric of this journey which may lead to a further interest in Pluralism going forward. By acknowledging plurallism within this course, The Way Forward Centre is remaining current with contemporary perspectives within the wider couselling and psychotherapy field.

This two-year part-time qualification gives you the knowledge, skills and competencies to work as a therapeutic counsellor in an agency context in both health care and non-medical settings. At the end of this qualification, and as long as you have met all the internal and external requirements of the course, you would be a qualified counsellor and able to obtain membership with a member organisation such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). You would also be able to join an accredited register. An accredited register is one which meets the standards set by the Professional Standards Authority.

Successful completion of this course means you will be able to provide a therapeutic counselling service – initially within the context of an agency’s service framework but later (with experience and support from the supervisor, or by completing PC-L5 or its equivalent) may progress to independent practice.

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QUALIFICATION STRUCTURE

Students will build a portfolio of evidence to cover the work associated with the following 7 mandatory units:

  • Working ethically, safely and professionally as a counsellor (R/600/9346)

  • Working within a counselling relationship (T/600/9355)

  • Working with client diversity in counselling work (J/600/9358)

  • Working within a user-centred approach to counselling (F/600/9472)

  • Working with self-awareness in the counselling process (H/600/9478)

  • Working within a coherent framework of counselling theory and skills (K/600/9482)

  • Working self-reflectively as a counsellor (F/600/9486)

Guided Learning Hours 420 hours (minimum)

Total Qualification Time 1204 hours

Credit value 120

To find out more about the course content and expectations please download the following CPCAB Candidate Guide


ADDITIONAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the academic requirements for this course you will be asked to complete the following:

  • Complete fitness to practice course requirments prior to embarking on a counselling placement

  • Complete 100 hours supervised practice in an agreed placement (to begin during the first academic year of study)

  • Attend the approved amount of supervision either within your placement or via an external supervisor

  • Complete 20 hours of personal therapy (to begin during the first academic year of study)

  • Optional additional telephone and online counselling training (sourced externally)


ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Candidates who have completed the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2) and CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3), or their recognised prior learning (RPL) Equivalent.

When you submit your Level 4 Application form you will be invited to an interview to discuss your training to date, you will be offered a place if you meet the entry requirements for the course, and evidence the personal and professional qualities required to be accepted onto the course.

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PROGRESSION ROUTES

Successful candidates will be able to:

  • Register with the BACP or equivelent as a ‘Qualified Counsellor’

  • Apply for employment as a Qualified Counsellor

  • Work in a Charity Setting as a Volunteer Counsellor

  • Candidates are advised to accrue additional experience before working as a Self Employed Counsellor

Candidates may progress to the following:

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FEES:      

Academic year Sept 2024 until July 2025 (Last updated 04/02/2024)

This is a 2 year course, the fees quoted here are for one academic year only. The fees for Year 2 will be released in Feb 2025.

Course Fee: £3624 (inclusive of VAT), Fees are payable per academic year

CPCAB Registration fee: £366 (Course registration, external assessment and certification)

BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification £25* (This is a one off fee at the beginning of the Year 1 only)

Total Fee: £4015 (Inclusive of *CPCAB Registration fee*, BACP Approved Practitioner Fee & VAT)

Fees are invoiced on an annual basis and must be fully paid for year 1 before progression to year 2

Fees can be paid over a schedule of monthly payments, agreed on an annual basis

A non-refundable deposit payment of £300 will be requested to secure your place on the course, following acceptance of your application and a successful interview.

If you would like to apply for this course you can complete an application form by clicking on the button below:


FURTHER INFORMATION

Further information about the Way Forward Centre, our philosophy and other relevant student information can be found by accessing the following pages:


COURSE ENQUIRY FORM

If you wish to apply for this course then please submit an application form which can be accessed by clicking on this button:

If you would like to ask any questions specific to our Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling TC-L4 please feel free to contact us using the form below: