Anne Colgan
The course is great fun - whether it’s for a career or just to enjoy. Most people are nervous when you meet a bunch of new people, but everyone was there to learn and have fun!
Entry Requirements
You will need to have completed a Level 2 Counselling Skills course or equivalent or be using counselling skills to Level 2 standard consistently in a voluntary or workplace capacity.
You must also have a minimum of grade 4/C in GCSE English. Once you apply online, you will be invited to an interview session in Spring or Summer term (depending on when you apply - it's better to apply early). At your allocated interview session you will have a 1:1 interview with the course tutor and complete a written assessment which helps us to assess your suitability for the course.
If you apply later than June, spaces may be full, but you can register for a Counselling Taster course (two week taster session usually held in late September) but if you want to progress onto the L2 or L3 course after this, you will still need to complete an interview/assessment following the two week taster course, if spaces are still available for the L2 or L3.
Details
The course is delivered in a group on one afternoon/evening per week (4pm-9pm), which you need to be available to attend face to face from September to June. There is a mandatory expectation that you will also complete learning in your own time, in the form of home learning activities, reading and assignments.
There are five units of study: developing counselling skills, theoretical approaches in the use of counselling skills, working ethically with counselling skills, counselling skills and diversity and counselling skills and personal development. The course will require counselling skills to be practiced in small groups each week, as well as a taught element each week. Assessment is through learner class notes, home learning tasks, assignments and skills observations.
If you are aged 19 or over and don’t meet the eligibility criteria to get your course funded, then you can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.
This course is part of the National Skills List, which means if you are aged 19 or over and this is your first Level 3 qualification, the course fees will be waived. Course fees will also be waived if you are unemployed or working on a wage less then £25,000.
For any further information about the Counselling Level 3 course, please contact Jenna.Bradford@hopwood.ac.uk.
Progression
Successful completion of the Level 3 Counselling Skills course provides a strong foundation in counselling theory and practice. While it is not a qualification to practise as a Counsellor, it equips learners with the skills and knowledge needed to progress to further training - such as a Level 4 Diploma in Counselling - depending on individual entry requirements.
