With extensive experience in delivering training and counselling courses, I have had the privilege of guiding students through the CPCAB curriculum, from Level 2 to Level 4.
Over the years, I’ve developed a deep understanding of the skills and knowledge required to support and nurture future counsellors.
My approach to teaching is rooted in creating an engaging and supportive learning environment, where students are encouraged to explore and develop their own counselling abilities.
By combining practical insights with theoretical foundations, I aim to empower students to thrive in their professional journey and make a meaningful impact in the world of counselling and psychotherapy.
Training Approaches
Evidence suggests that (once researcher allegiance effects are controlled for) there are no significant differences in effectiveness between approaches.
Most Counselling training is either within one theoretical framework or integrates several of these into an integrative model, which can then vary in terms of its theoretical basis.
In addition to different theoretical models, there appear to be differences in the ‘level-ness’ of courses.
This results in it not always being clear whether a counsellor has a qualification at pre-tertiary undergraduate or postgraduate level.
The professionalisation of Counselling has also been complicated due to the great diversity in approaches, training and employment/voluntary work settings.
In addition, practitioner psychologists and some practitioners in allied health professions, such as art therapists, have become regulated by the HCPC, but Counselling and Psychotherapy are not.
Accreditation
There are currently two main bodies representing counsellors and psychotherapists – the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP). They serve as both membership organisations as well as upholding standards for professionals, although this has no legal standing.
Despite (or maybe because of) the long-standing absence of statutory regulation, BACP and UKCP accreditation have become ‘industry standard’ over the past years. UKCP accredits courses, and by following one of those courses, the individual student becomes accredited by UKCP. The largest scheme, BACP accreditation, exists in two types: course accreditation and individual accreditation. Completing an accredited course does not confer automatic individual accreditation but makes the individual accreditation process less of an administrative burden.
Individual accreditation can be achieved by completing a course (accredited or not accredited, as long as core areas are covered) in addition to evidencing a minimum amount of client work that has to be accumulated post-training, and evidence of professional standing (assessed through the application process). For both schemes, courses can achieve accreditation by meeting certain standards of training. Courses generally must include minimum hours and standards of personal development, theory, ethical awareness and skills development.