Foundation Certificate in Counselling

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 Diploma in Integrative 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 in March 2025.

[email protected]

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

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!

020 3051 8235

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.

We are now interviewing. 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.

Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Accelerated)

September 2024 – March 2025

Monday evenings and one weekend per term, for six months

Dates: 23^rd September 2024 – 10^th March 2025
Time: 18:00 – 21:30
Location: TAC Clapham
Fee: £2,600

Course Full

2024	Mondays (6pm to 9:30pm)	Saturdays (10am to 5pm)	Sundays (10am to 5pm)
Day 1	23^rd September
Day 2	30^th September
Day 3	7^th October
Day 4	14^th October
Day 5		19^th October	20^th October
Day 6	21^st October
Day 7	28^th October
Day 8	4^th November
Day 9	11^th November
Day 10	18^th November
Day 11	25^th November
Day 12		30^th November	1^st December
Day 13	2^nd December
Day 14	9^th December
Day 15	16^th December
2025 WINTER BREAK
Day 16	13^th January
Day 17	20^th January
Day 18	27^th January
Day 19	3^rd February
Day 20		8^th February	9^th February
Day 21	10^th February
Day 22	17^th February
Day 23	24^th February
Day 24	3^rd March
Day 25	10^th March

Foundation Certificate in Counselling

September 2024 – July 2025

Friday evenings, for ten months

Dates: 20^th September 2024 – 25^th July 2025
Time: 18:00 – 21:00
Location: TAC Tooting
Fee: £2,600

Course Full

2024 Fridays 6pm to 9pm
Day 1	20^th September
Day 2	27^th September
Day 3	04^th October
Day 4	11^th October
Day 5	18^th October
Day 6	25^th October
Day 7	01^st November
Day 8	08^th November
Day 9	15^th November
Day 10	22^nd November
Day 11	29^th November
Day 12	06^th December
Day 13	13^th December
2025 WINTER BREAK
Day 14	10^th January 2025
Day 15	17^th January
Day 16	24^th January
Day 17	31^st January
Day 18	07^th February
Day 19	14^th February
Day 20	21^st February
Day 21	28^th February
Day 22	07^th March
Day 23	14^th March
Day 24	21^st March
Day 25	28^th March
Day 26	04^th April
EASTER BREAK
Day 27	25^th April
Day 28	02^nd May
Day 29	09^th May
Day 30	16^th May
Day 31	23^rd May
Day 32	30^th May
Day 33	06^th June
Day 34	13^th June
Day 35	20^th June
Day 36	27^th June
Day 37	04^th July
Day 38	11^th July
Day 39	18^th July
Day 40	25^th July

Total 100 hours, with breaks deducted.

Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Accelerated – Weekends)

March 2025 – July 2025

Saturdays & Sundays, for four months

Dates: 15^th March 2025 – 20^th July 2025
Time: 10:00 – 16:00
Location: TAC Tooting
Fee: £2,600

Enrol today – Applications close 31^st January 2025

2025	Saturdays (10am to 4pm)	Sundays (10am to 4pm)
Day 1	15^th March
Day 2		16th March
Day 3	29^th March
Day 4		30^th March
Day 5	5^th April
Day 6		6^th April
	EASTER BREAK
Day 7	26^th April
Day 8		27^th April
Day 9	3^rd May
Day 10		4^th May
Day 11	24^th May
Day 12		25^th May
Day 13	7^th June
Day 14		8^th June
Day 15	21^st June
Day 16		22^nd June
Day 17	12^th July
Day 18		13th July
Day 19	19th July
Day 20		20th July

Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Accelerated – Evenings)

March 2025 – August 2025

Monday evenings and four weekends, for five months

Dates: 22^nd March 2025 – 17^th August 2025
Time: Mondays 18:00 – 21:30
Location: TAC Clapham
Fee: £2,600

Enrol today – Applications close 31^st January 2025

2025	Mondays (6pm to 9:30pm)	Saturdays (10am to 5pm)	Sundays (10am to 5pm)
Day 1		22^nd March
Day 2			23^rd March
Day 3	24^th March
Day 4	31^st March
Day 5	7^th April
		EASTER BREAK
Day 6	28^th April
Day 7		3^rd May
Day 8			4^th May
Day 9	12^th May
Day 10	19^th May
Day 11	2^nd June
Day 12	9^th June
Day 13	16^th June
Day 14	23^rd June
Day 15	30^th June
Day 16		5^th July
Day 17			6^th July
Day 18	7^th July
Day 19	14^th July
Day 20	21^st July
Day 21	28^th July
Day 22	4^th August
Day 23	11^th August
Day 24		16th August
Day 25		17^th August

Foundation Certificate in Counselling

April 2025 – March 2026

Thursday evenings and one weekend per term, for eleven months

Dates: 24^th April 2025 – 26^th March 2026
Time: 18:00 – 21:00
Location: TAC Tooting
Fee: £2,600

Enrol today – Applications close 31^st January 2025

Thursdays 6pm – 9.00pm
Day 1	24th April 2025
Day 2	1^st May
Day 3	8^th May
Day 4	15^th May
Day 5	22^nd May
Day 6	29^th May
Day 7	5^th June
Day 8	12^th June
Day 9	19^th June
Day 10	26^th June
Day 11	3^rd July
Day 12	10^th July
Day 13	17^th July
Day 14	24^th July
SUMMER BREAK
Day 15	11^th September
Day 16	18^th September
Day 17	25^th September
Day 18	2^nd October
Day 19	9^th October
Day 20	16^th October
Day 21	23^rd October
Day 22	30^th October
Day 23	6^th November
Day 24	13^th November
Day 25	20^th November
Day 26	27^th November
Day 27	4^th December
Day 28	11^th December
WINTER BREAK
Day 29	8^th January 2026
Day 30	15^th January
Day 31	22^nd January
Day 32	29^th January
Day 33	5^th February
Day 34	12^th February
Day 35	19^th February
Day 36	26^th February
Day 37	5^th March
Day 38	12^th March
Day 39	19^th March
Day 40	26^th March

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 administration costs).

Accelerated course full payment: Initial deposit of £450 required on course agreement. Balance payment £2150. Total – £2,600.

Accelerated 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.

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.

STUDENT REVIEWS ENROL TODAY

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 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!

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 ENROL TODAY

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!

A.G

Completing the Foundation Certificate with The Awareness Centre has been so worthwhile. It has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my 29 years! Our tutor Karen was amazing, and I have learnt an incredible amount from her. This course has increased my self-awareness, my empathy, and my confidence. I can’t wait to start the journey on the Diploma.

Anna

I have enjoyed the diversity of the class and being able to open and share our experiences and support each other with course work, which has been encouraged by our tutor. We have been given a good amount of time to complete assignments and the additional reading has been excellent. I have felt respected and valued throughout and have also grown significantly as a person.

A.J