Overview

The Certificate in Community Counselling is an integrative approach to Christian counselling which will provide you with a biblical framework, a range of different counselling approaches (secular and Christian) and the counselling skills to support others in a practical, sensitive and ethical manner. You will also be given insights and understanding into some of the issues you might encounter in your community including anxiety, eating disorders, crisis pregnancy & abortion and spiritual conflicts.

Who is the course for?

• Those wishing to be better equipped in supporting and counselling others
• Those working in Christian organizations, pastoral care or other caring professions
• Those working towards becoming counsellors. The course meets ACC’s required training standards for accreditation as “Practitioner in training”. (See Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) for further details)

Admission requirements

You must have successfully completed the Introduction to Community Counselling (or an equivalent training) and have a minimum age of 19 years. During an interview you will need to demonstrate the willingness and capacity to develop the personal, professional and spiritual qualities involved when counselling from a Christian perspective. This course is an English speaking course and it is expected that you have a good command of English. (Written and oral)

Please note that this qualification is not suitable for those who are currently in a state of severe emotional difficulty and/or severe psychological confusion, for example those:

• Currently experiencing – without ongoing and appropriate professional support – a recent, major life crisis such as marital breakdown or a close bereavement.
• Currently experiencing moderate to severe mental health problems including, for example, clinical depression, severe anxiety disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders or any form of psychosis.
• Currently involved in substance misuse.

We reserve the right to refuse admission to anyone whom we consider unsuitable for the course.

Course recognition

The course is recognised and accredited with the Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) providing 100 Guided Learning Hours at Level 3.
On satisfactory completion you will also qualify for an internal YWAM award which certifies that you have successfully completed an "Introduction to Community Counselling". We are currently in the process of gaining additional course accreditation with CPCAB (Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) allowing students to gain training hours recognised by a UK awarding body that has 130 recognised training centres and is approved by the Office of the Qualifications & Examinations Regulator (Ofqual).

Note:
The training hours gained through this course may be used to work towards applying for counsellor accreditation with the Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) or the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). However, in order to gain full accreditation with any of these bodies, candidates will have to meet all other ACC or BACP criteria and further training hours and counselling practice under supervision will be required.

Progression

After course completion you may decide to finish your studies or progress onto our Diploma in Community Counselling (or an equivalent course with another training organization)

Curriculum

Over the length of the course we will cover some basic concepts within Christian counselling and the central place of the Holy Spirit as the counsellor. You will be introduced to a range of counselling approaches, secular and Christian and counselling interventions necessary for counselling others. Throughout the course, a good part of the day will be allocated for practising counselling skills.

The curriculum is subject to change

Tutorials and Learning Support

Since we regard the individual support of students as vital, the number of students we accept on any of our courses is limited (maximum 15 students). We reserve the right to cancel the course due to low numbers (fewer than 6 students). Throughout the course, tutors will provide regular support to enable you to face and address issues of concern in your studies.

Assessment

Assignments will be a mixture of written and practical work. Over the length of the course you are expected to complete regular course work, keep a weekly Personal Learning Journal and submit a video-tape in which you demonstrate your counselling skills. A small counselling research project is intended to give you a wider awareness into a specific counselling issue that is of particular interest to you.

Training Team

The training team consists of a number of experienced and qualified counsellors trained in various counselling approaches and registered members of professional bodies such as the Association of Christian Counsellors UK (ACC), British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).

Course staff and lecturers

Speakers include course staff, visiting lecturers who are experts in their chosen field or local Christians involved in urban ministries.

Attendance

To successfully complete the course, you will need to pass all units and have a minimum attendance of 90% at all lectures.

Personal Study

An initial reading list will be provided following acceptance on the course and you will be required to read a number of books throughout the course. Our library holds a range of books in counselling and other related subject areas. In addition to the 17 training sessions you are expected to invest at least two hours of personal study for each session. This includes time spent on reading, writing essays assignment and personal learning journals.

The above course fee includes: Application fee, lectures, handouts, snacks and drinks, ACC student levy, and CPCAB candidate registration fee

Breakdown of course costs:

Once accepted on the course, the application fee becomes non-refundable and we will ask you to pay a deposit of £ 200.00 to reserve your place. The deposit fee is non-refundable unless we have to cancel a course due to unforeseen circumstances or low numbers. You may pay your course fee in full during registration day or in two instalments.

Apply here

Pay your application fee here