Foundation Certificate in Counselling

Take your first steps towards becoming a counsellor with our Foundation Certificate 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. Designed and run by specialists in the therapy field, our highly experienced tutors deliver this face-to-face course at our Tooting training centre in South London. Embark on this rewarding career path and enrol today.

Our next course starts on 19th April 2024.
The Awareness Centre Training School

Foundation Certificate in Counselling: Course Content Overview

The Foundation Certificate in Counselling is delivered in three modules across 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

FIND OUT MORE

If you would like any further information, please contact the Training School team at [email protected] or call 020 3051 8235.

Course Fees

Our 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 2024 – March 2025

Two Fridays a month, for ten months

  • Dates: 19th April 2024 – 28th March 2025
  • Time: 10:00 – 16:00
  • Location: TAC Tooting
  • Fee: £2,600

Enrolment open

Fridays 10am to 4pm
Day 119th April 2024
Day 23rd May
Day 310th May
Day 424th May
Half Term
Day 57th June
Day 621st June
Day 75th July
Day 819th July
Summer Break
Day 96th September
Day 1020th September
Day 114th October
Day 1218th October
Day 138th November
Day 1422nd November
Christmas Break
Day 1510th January 2025
Day 1624th January
Day 177th February
Day 1828th February
Day 1914th March
Day 2028th March

Total 100 hours, with breaks deducted.

September 2024 – July 2025

 

  • Dates: TBC
  • Time: 10:00 – 16:00
  • Location: TAC Tooting
  • Fee: £2,600

Enrolment opens April 2024

Payment options

Full payment: Initial deposit of £350 required on course agreement. Balance payment £2,250. Total – £2,600

Monthly payment: Initial deposit of £350 required on course agreement. 10 x monthly instalments of £250 by direct debit. Total – £2,850. (This increased fee includes adminstration costs).

All fees are inclusive of 20% VAT. Deposits are non-refundable.

FIND OUT MORE

If you would like any further information, please contact the Training School team at [email protected] or call 020 3051 8235.

shutterstock 2058088850 Certificate in Counselling

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 2,500 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 (2,500 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 with 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]

FIND OUT MORE

If you would like any further information, please contact the Training School team at [email protected] or call 020 3051 8235.

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 centre in Tooting, south London. It is a part-time course, which provides 100 guided learning hours over ten months. 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 in Counselling is a very well put together course. The information is relevant, well-structured into modules and thoroughly explained by our wonderful tutor Karen. I enjoy the triads group practices more than anything else. It is through this personal development group that I personally make the most sense of the theory we are learning about. There is ample time for reading and reflection in the weeks that separate the meetings. I feel that I have grown as a person by embarking on this course, learning about the core conditions of person centred therapy and applying them to my relationships. It’s been a wonderful experience so far and I would recommend this course if you are looking for a safe environment in which to learn and practice basic counselling skills.

L.R

My experience on the counselling course was thorough and thought provoking. The tutor and course leader were very supportive. Thank you

A.M

I was nervous about becoming a student after such a long time. I have been pleasantly surprised with the diversity and depth of life experiences that both my tutor and classmates share. It is increasing my confidence and joy towards learning. With the support of both classmates and tutor I really now feel this is something that is meant for me, and that I can seriously become a professional practitioner.

A.J

The Tutors

Click on the profiles below to learn more about our Foundation Certificate in Counselling tutors.
Bonny Allyson

Bonny Allyson – Lead Foundation Tutor/ Diploma Tutor

Patrizia Vadalà

Patrizia Vadalà – Lead Foundation Tutor/ Diploma Tutor

FIND OUT MORE

If you would like any further information, please contact the Training School team at [email protected] or call 020 3051 8235.