To be accepted onto any of our courses trainees will need to demonstrate evidence of the following qualities, or the potential for developing them:
- Self-awareness, maturity and stability.
- Ability to make use of and reflect upon life experience.
- Capacity to cope with the emotional demands of counselling training.
- Ability to cope with the intellectual and academic requirements.
- Ability to form a helping relationship.
- Ability to be self-reflective and use both positive and negative feedback.
- Awareness of the nature of prejudice and oppression.
This qualification is for:
This qualification is designed to give learners the knowledge, skills and competencies to work as self-employed counsellors in independent practice or within an agency setting. It also equips learners to take on a senior counselling role in an organisational context where client assessment, referral and routine evaluation are part of the role.
This course provides opportunities for critical self-reflection and enables learners to work towards the production of a research proposal.
The proposal will cover the field of counselling research and the methodological approaches to enquiry to assess and evaluate the practice of counselling and/or a topic relevant to the field.
Entry Requirements:
- You must have undertaken Level 2, 3 & 4 in Counselling skills with at least 550 Guided Learning hours (in total).
- Your Level 2, 3 & 4 qualifications in Counselling must be from an approved examining board. Evidence will need to be presented before admission.
- You must be 19yrs+ to study this course.

Course Overview
What will I study?
Candidates are expected to undertake 100 hours of unpaid supervised counselling at a placement they facilitate. The placement requirement in this qualification is essential to the personal and professional development of the practitioner.
This qualification enables learners to embark on practice working within an ethical framework and will develop an understanding of legal and ethical requirements.
Learners are expected to make appropriate use of counselling supervision and evaluate their own work.
Learning Outcomes
- Working within legal and ethical requirements as a counselling practitioner
- Key professional issues arising in the counselling placement
- How developing self-awareness can contribute as a counselling practitioner
- Understanding and applying a professional ethical framework
- Respond effectively to complex client issues and ethical dilemmas
- Demonstrate the use of counselling supervision and evaluate the effects of using counselling supervision on own practice
- Evaluate how developing self-awareness can contribute to the effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship and process
- Theoretical aspects of counselling supervision
- Practical aspects of counselling supervision
- Key ethical and legal issues for counsellors
- Conflicts between ethical and legal requirements
- The field of counselling research
- The contribution of the research literature to an intended research proposal
- The contribution of research methodologies to an intended research proposal
- The ethical implications of the proposed research

How will I be assessed?
Who teaches the course?
The Level 5 Course is taught by a member of NWCH’s training team. All our trainers are qualified counsellors and are registered with the BACP.
How is the course taught?
Sessions are a mixture of teaching; group work and practical role play exercises to develop counselling skills. Students study two core subjects in depth, enhance their counselling skills and prepare for counselling practice in placement. The course enables an insight into counselling research thus preparing learners to go onto Level 6 (degree level) should they wish. The course involves self-reflection and encourages growth in self-awareness. Each student receives a comprehensive course manual including additional background reading, with a comprehensive reading list. Guidance and support is provided, to write the essay, study, research proposal and synoptic assessment.
Who Accredits the course?
The course is accredited by AIM Awards and is a nationally regulated OFQUAL qualification.
Progression: You will now be qualified to practice as a counsellor, you could now choose to specialise in an area of interest.
The course can lead to employment in agency settings, independent practice and registered status within the BACP.
Why study here?
How to apply?
You can apply using our online application form downloadable here, please email to: admin@nwcounsellinghub.co.uk
Or
You can also apply using a paper application form which can be requested by emailing admin@nwcounsellinghub.co.uk or calling 01522 253809
Once this is received we shall invite you in for an interview, the questions are provided beforehand, with a list of the documents we will need to see.
We also request two references – a professional one and a character one.
Fees: £3995 + VAT
A deposit will be required on booking your place. Payment plans available – please contact admin@nwcounsellinghub.co.uk to discuss the options.
Please note we make every effort to ensure information within our website is accurate and a true representation of the courses we are offering. However, we do reserve the right to make changes if necessary.