I’ve really enjoyed the content so far, and our tutor. They have made the process of adult learning easy, and considered our needs as a group throughout the modules.
T.V
Equivalent to a Level 3
Take your first steps towards becoming a counsellor with our Foundation Certificate in Counselling. This Level 3 equivalent course fulfils the entry requirements for our BACP accredited Diploma in Counselling. You will learn a diverse range of models and approaches to counselling, develop your self-awareness, and enhance your interpersonal and communication skills, empowering you to make a real difference in people’s lives.
Led by expert tutors at our Clapham, Tooting and Nine Elms centres in South London, this course is designed to support your personal and professional growth. Our fast track options are perfect for those ready to accelerate their journey into counselling. Enrol today and take the next step towards a meaningful new career.
Our next courses start in September 2026. Places fill quickly due to high demand, so we encourage you to enrol early to secure your spot.
Foundation Certificate in Counselling: Course Content Overview
The Foundation Certificate in Counselling is delivered in three modules across two or three terms, each including the following main components:
- Theory lectures and discussion groups
- Skills practice workshops
- Personal development activities
Module 1: Helping & Counselling
This module focuses on developing your understanding of what counselling is and is not and includes a workshop on how to write essays using Harvard Referencing:
- What do we understand by counselling?
- How does counselling differ from other forms of help?
- Who can be helped by counselling?
- Standards and ethics in counselling
- The ‘core conditions’ of the person-centred model in counselling
Module 2: Ethics / Basic Human Development
This module introduces the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Profession (2018) and provides an overview of some key contributors in the field of basic human development:
- Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
- Erikson’s psychosocial model
- Freud’s psychosexual model
Module 3: Modalities of Counselling
This module of the counselling certificate introduces a range of theoretical models, including:
- Gestalt Therapy
- Transactional Analysis
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution Focused Therapy
- An introduction to clinical supervision in counselling
Course Fees
Our Foundation Certificate courses contain the same amount of class time and assessments. The accelerated foundation course enables you to complete the course in a shorter time and (on successful completion) move on to our Diploma course without a break. This would be a suitable option for you if you are keen to train as a counsellor in a shorter period and can commit more concentrated time to your studies.
Courses can become oversubscribed, so we encourage early enrolment. Places on each intake will be offered to applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
APRIL 2026 COURSES ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED – VIEW TERM DATES.
Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Fast Track Evenings)
September 2026 – March 2027
Wednesday evenings and three weekends, for six months
- Dates: 16th September 2026 – 12th March 2027
- Time: 18:00 – 21:30
- Location: TAC Tooting
- Fee: £2,600
Applications close 26th June 2026
Please note dates are subject to change
| MODULE 1 | Wednesdays | Saturdays (10am – 5pm) | Sundays |
| Class 1 | 16 September | ||
| Weekend 1 | 19 September | ||
| Class 2, 3, 4, 5 | 20 September | ||
| Class 6 | 23 September | ||
| Class 7 | 30 September | ||
| MODULE 2 | |||
| Class 8 | 07 October | ||
| Class 9 | 14 October | ||
| Class 10 | 21 October | ||
| Class 11 | 28 October | ||
| Class 12 | 04 November | ||
| Class 13 | 11 November | ||
| Class 14 | 18 November | ||
| Class 15 | 25 November | ||
| Weekend 2 | 28th November | ||
| Class 16. 17. 18. 19 | 29th November | ||
| Class 20 | 02 December | ||
| MODULE 3 | |||
| Class 21 | 09 December | ||
| WINTER BREAK | |||
| Class 22 | 13 January | ||
| Class 23 | 20 January | ||
| Class 24 | 27 January | ||
| Class 25 | 03 February | ||
| Weekend 3 | 6th February | ||
| Class 27. 28. 29. 30 | 7th February | ||
| Class 26 | 10 February | ||
| Class 31 | 17 February | ||
| Class 32 | 24 February | ||
| Class 33 | 03 March | ||
Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Fast Track Evenings)
September 2026 – March 2027
Friday evenings and three weekends, for six months
- Dates: 18th September 2026 – 12th March 2027
- Time: 18:00 – 21:30
- Location: TAC Tooting
- Fee: £2,600
Applications close 26th June 2026
Please note dates are subject to change
2026 | Fridays (6pm to 9:30pm) | Saturdays (10am to 5pm) | Sundays |
| MODULE 1 | |||
| Class 1 | 18 September | ||
| Class 2 | 25 September | ||
| Weekend 1 | 26 September | ||
| Class 3, 4, 5, 6 | 27 September | ||
| Class 7 | 02 October | ||
| MODULE 2 | |||
| Class 8 | 09 October | ||
| Class 9 | 16 October | ||
| Class 10 | 23 October | ||
| Class 11 | 30 October | ||
| Class 12 | 06 November | ||
| Class 13 | 13 November | ||
| Class 14 | 20 November | ||
| Class 15 | 27 November | ||
| Class 16 | 04 December | ||
| Weekend 2 | 05 December | ||
| Class 17. 18. 19. 20 | 06 December | ||
| MODULE 3 | |||
| Class 21 | 11 December | ||
WINTER BREAK | |||
| 2027 Class 22 | 15 January | ||
| Class 23 | 22 January | ||
| Class 24 | 29 January | ||
| Class 25 | 05 February | ||
| Class 26 | 12 February | ||
| Weekend 3 | 13 February | ||
| Class 27. 28. 29. 30 | 14 February | ||
| Class 31 | 19 February | ||
| Class 32 | 26 February | ||
| Class 33 | 05 March | ||
| Class 34 | 12 March | ||
Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Fast Track Evenings)
September 2026 – March 2027
Monday evenings and three weekends, for six months
- Dates: 21st September – 8th March 2027
- Time: 18:00 – 21:30
- Location: TAC Tooting
- Fee: £2,600
Applications close 26th June 2026
Please note dates are subject to change
Day | Mondays | Saturdays |
|
Class 1 | 21 September | ||
Class 2 | 28 September | ||
Class 3 | 05 October | ||
Class 4 | 12 October | ||
Class 5 | 19 October | ||
Class 6 | 26 October | ||
Weekend 1 | |||
Class 7, 8, 9, 10 | 31 October | 01 November | |
Class 11 | 02 November | ||
Class 12 | 09 November | ||
Class 13 | 16 November | ||
Class 14 | 23 November | ||
Class 15 | 30 November | ||
Class 16 | 07 December | ||
Weekend 2 | |||
Class 17, 18, 19, 20 | 12 December | 13 December | |
Class 21 | 14 December | ||
WINTER BREAK | |||
Class 22 | 11 January | ||
Class 23 | 18 January | ||
Class 24 | 25 January | ||
Class 25 | 01 February | ||
Class 26 | 08 February | ||
Class 27 | 15 February | ||
Weekend 3 | |||
Class 28, 29, 30, 31 | 20 February | 21 February | |
Class 32 | 22 February | ||
Class 33 | 01 March | ||
Class 34 | 08 March |
Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Fast Track Evenings)
September 2026 – March 2027
Tuesday evenings and three weekends, for six months
- Dates: 22nd September – 9th March 2027
- Time: 18:00 – 21:30
- Location: TAC Clapham
- Fee: £2,600
Applications close 26th June 2026
Please note dates are subject to change
| Day | Tuesdays (6pm – 9:30pm) | Saturdays (10am – 5pm) | Sundays (10am – 5pm) |
| Class 1 | 22 September | ||
| Class 2 | 29 September | ||
| Class 3 | 06 October | ||
| Class 4 | 13 October | ||
| Class 5 | 20 October | ||
| Class 6 | 27 October | ||
| Weekend 1 | 31 October | ||
| Class 7, 8, 9, 10 | 01 November | ||
| Class 11 | 03 November | ||
| Class 12 | 10 November | ||
| Class 13 | 17 November | ||
| Class 14 | 24 November | ||
| Class 15 | 01 December | ||
| Class 16 | 08 December | ||
| Weekend 2 | 12 December | ||
| Class 17, 18, 19, 20 | 13 December | ||
| Class 21 | 15 December | ||
WINTER BREAK | |||
| Class 22 | 12 January | ||
| Class 23 | 19 January | ||
| Class 24 | 26 January | ||
| Class 25 | 02 February | ||
| Class 26 | 09 February | ||
| Class 27 | 16 February | ||
| Weekend 3 | 20 February | ||
| Class 28, 29, 30, 31 | 21 February | ||
| Class 32 | 23 February | ||
| Class 33 | 02 March | ||
| Class 34 | 09 March | ||
Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Fast Track Evenings)
September 2026 – March 2027
Thursday evenings and three weekends, for six months
- Dates: 24th September 2026 – 11th March 2027
- Time: 18:00 – 21:30
- Location: TAC Nine Elms
- Fee: £2,600
Applications close 26th June 2026
Please note dates are subject to change
| Day | Thursday (6pm – 9:30pm) | Saturdays (10am – 5pm) | Sundays (10am – 5pm) |
| Class 1 | 24 September | ||
| Class 2 | 01 October | ||
| Class 3 | 08 October | ||
| Class 4 | 15 October | ||
| Class 5 | 22 October | ||
| Class 6 | 29 October | ||
| Weekend 1 | 31 October | ||
| Class 7, 8, 9, 10 | 01 November | ||
| Class 11 | 05 November | ||
| Class 12 | 12 November | ||
| Class 13 | 19 November | ||
| Class 14 | 26 November | ||
| Class 15 | 03 December | ||
| Class 16 | 10 December | ||
| Weekend 2 | 12 December | ||
| Class 17, 18, 19, 20 | 13 December | ||
| Class 21 | 17 December | ||
WINTER BREAK | |||
| Class 22 | 14 January | ||
| Class 23 | 21 January | ||
| Class 24 | 28 January | ||
| Class 25 | 04 February | ||
| Class 26 | 11 February | ||
| Class 27 | 18 February | ||
| Weekend 3 | 20 February | ||
| Class 28. 29. 30, 31 | 21 February | ||
| Class 32 | 25 February | ||
| Class 33 | 04 March | ||
| Class 34 | 11 March | ||
Payment options
Fast-track course full payment: Initial deposit of £450 required on course agreement. Balance payment £2150. Total – £2,600.
Fast-track course monthly payment: Initial deposit of £450 required on course agreement. 5 x monthly instalments of £480 by direct debit. Total – £2850. (This increased fee includes administration costs).
All fees are inclusive of 20% VAT. Deposits are non-refundable. Your statutory rights remain unaffected and are detailed in the contract you will receive upon enrolment.
If you have any questions, give us a call to talk through course and payment plans on 020 3051 8235.
FIND OUT MORE
If you would like any further information, please contact the Training School team at [email protected] or call 020 3051 8235.
Our Foundation Certificate in Counselling offers a comprehensive overview of counselling in practice by discussing different theoretical approaches and processing your learning in skills practice. Students will explore their personal development within the group and write reflective journals to support their counselling journey.
To complete the course, students must attend 80% of the training and pass two written assignments of 3000 words. Students are supported by their lead tutor and peers throughout the course by having the space to reflect and process feedback. Students will also meet with their tutors for end of module tutorials. Our management team has an ‘open door policy’ to discuss any practical matters concerning your course.
To complete the course you will need to:
- Attend 80% of the training
- Complete a personal development journal
- Demonstrate satisfactory progress in theoretical understanding, counselling skills practice, personal development, and how theory relates to personal experience. You’ll receive reflections and feedback from your tutor and peers throughout the course
- Submit end-of-module reflective views
- Complete and pass two assignments (3000 words each)
- Attend end-of-module tutorials
- Be in personal therapy or have a minimum of twelve sessions of counselling with a qualified therapist during the first term of your course. (Students will fund their personal therapy)
Academic Writing Assistance (optional)
TAC works with Ash Phipps to give students access to tuition in academic writing. Ash has 10 years’ experience teaching study skills strategies to students who want to develop their writing skills and specialises in SpLDs (dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, ADD, Autism).
For any further questions and fees, please call 020 3051 8235 or email [email protected]
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the training process, our team is here to answer them – big or small. Don’t hesitate to call us!
Counselling: Course FAQs
Who does the teaching?
We ensure that all of our tutors are experienced counselling professionals. During the counselling course, you will attend face-to-face skills workshops and lectures provided by our specialist faculty. We strive to provide you with the most valuable training experience possible. Find out more about the faculty here.
Who can apply for TAC’s Foundation Certificate in Counselling?
You don’t need any previous qualifications or experience to enrol on this course.
What is the Enrolment Process?
Firstly, complete the online enrolment form, which includes a personal statement. You will then be invited to an online interview with a senior member of the Training School team. The interview is structured to give all students a similar experience. You will be asked questions to ensure that you have the time availability and emotional maturity to be able to commit to making the course a success.
How long is the Foundation Certificate in Counselling course?
Our Foundation Certificate in Counselling runs from one of our centres in Clapham or Tooting, south London. It is a part-time course, which provides 100 guided learning hours over ten months (or six months if on the accelerated course). You will attend face-to-face workshops and other training sessions during weekends throughout the year.
Will I gain practical experience too?
Yes. You’ll be practising counselling/helping skills with your peers throughout the course while also learning about clear, professional boundaries.
What can I study after the Foundation Certificate?
Following this course, you can enrol on the Diploma in Integrative Counselling and qualify as a professional counsellor. If you’re not sure about your next steps, you can always speak to a member of our team who will be able to answer your questions.
FIND OUT MORE
If you would like any further information, please contact the Training School team at [email protected] or call 020 3051 8235.
Student Reviews
Our Foundation Certificate in Counselling students have provided some great feedback on what developing your counselling skills can be like at The Awareness Centre. Read about their experience at The Awareness Centre Training School.
The Foundation Course exceeded my expectations! The course content is well-structured, and The Awareness Centre’s learning experiences are well-balanced between theory and practical tasks. Karen Dempsey, our tutor, is an experienced and competent counsellor who provided us with numerous examples from her own work. She expertly guided our group, resulting in lively debates and in-depth learning. As a result, the vast majority of us have chosen to enrol in The Awareness Centre’s Counselling Diploma Programme. This training comes highly recommended!
I thoroughly enjoyed my time at TAC. My tutor Bonny, not only is she such a warm, bubbly character, she is also exceptionally knowledgeable about the counselling course she lead. We her students mattered to her. Bonny is passionate about what she does, and she takes her students along with her.. I have learnt so much on this foundation course, and it has changed me for the better as a person. I would thoroughly recommend anyone who is thinking about enrolling on a counselling course, to enrol with TAC. I promise you will not regret it. I look forward to going on to study the Diploma level with TAC too.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
If you have any questions about the training process, our team is here to answer them – big or small. Don’t hesitate to call us!
The Tutors
Click on the profiles below to learn more about our Foundation Certificate in Counselling tutors.
FIND OUT MORE
If you would like any further information, please contact the Training School team at [email protected] or call 020 3051 8235.