Free Level 2 Counselling Course. Study online, at your own pace, in your own time. This free counselling course takes around 10 hours to complete and fits around your existing commitments. It covers counselling skills and techniques to help you have more effective, supportive conversations. This is not a practitioner qualification. It builds your understanding of counselling approaches, which you can apply in a current role or use as a foundation for further study.
Who this course is for
This course does not qualify you to practice as a counsellor, but is suitable for those who wish to increase their understanding of counselling skills and techniques in order to engage in helpful interaction appropriately. You could use this knowledge to complement an existing role, or as a basis for continued study to attain a qualification in this sector.
What you will learn
You'll explore core counselling skills and how to use them in supportive conversations.
You'll understand different counselling theories and approaches.
You'll learn how to listen actively and respond helpfully.
You'll recognise boundaries and the limits of counselling skills in non-therapeutic settings.
You'll develop awareness of how counselling techniques can support people in distress.
You'll identify when to refer someone to professional support.
How you will learn
You study online and work through the course at your own pace. Assessment is based on written tasks and knowledge checks completed online. You submit your work digitally, and it is marked against the qualification criteria for the TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. IOW College will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Support worker. Use counselling skills to support vulnerable adults.
Care assistant. Apply listening and communication skills in care settings.
Teaching assistant. Support pupils' emotional wellbeing in school.
SEN teaching assistant. Help students with additional needs feel heard and understood.
Youth support worker. Work with young people facing personal challenges.
Adult educator. Bring communication skills into learning and development roles.
Counselling. A first step toward a career in counselling, with further study required.
What you could study next
This level 2 counselling qualification is a starting point, not a practitioner licence. To work as a counsellor, you'll need to progress further.
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills. Deepens your knowledge and is often required before entering a counselling diploma.
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling. The qualification most professional counsellors hold. Required for membership of bodies such as BACP.
Level 3 Award in Education and Training. If you want to move into teaching or training roles using your counselling knowledge.
