Our Diploma course is 3 years, part time, term time only and includes a couple of Saturdays. We follow the Sheffield Schools calendar. The course runs 9.30-2pm. The October 2024 intake will be on Tuesday morning starting in October. We provide calendars at the start of the year with all the term dates.
Information can be downloaded via the ‘courses’ page on the website which includes applications forms, fees and calendars. In order to apply for the Diploma you will need to have completed our Foundation course or the equivalent elsewhere approximately 100 hours theory and practice. There is a document in the download section called ‘Please read before applying…’ which includes the criteria for applying.
Our Diploma is accredited by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society and meets the standards and requirements of the BACP. Further information can be found on the ‘Accreditation’ page of the website including validation and levels. Our Diploma course is the equivalent to level 5.
There is requirement to do a placement in Years 2 and 3 seeing up to 3 adult clients per week and we do provide support with finding a placement. We have a good relationship with Placement providers in Sheffield and the surrounding areas. We also run placement preparation sessions in the first year of the Diploma and invite representatives of Placements to come and talk to our trainees.
The majority of people applying for the Diploma have had some experience of personal therapy. If this is not the case we would recommend that you have a minimum 10 hours of personal therapy at some point during your training. One of the assignments in the third year is based on the experience of being the client so we would encourage trainees to engage in personal therapy.
We ask that you have at least 50 hours in ‘active listener’ role which utilises active listening skills. This can be gained in your Foundation year prior to starting the Diploma.
We also ask that you have access to resources such as PC, laptop and printer to enable you complete coursework. In an effort to reduce paper many of our resources are accessed on line and viewed electronically but you may wish to have the option of printing
Our Diploma course includes a Supervision module as part of our training and this begins in Year 2 and continues in Year 3. Supervision takes place twice a month and is made up of individual and group sessions to enable trainees to see 3 clients per week. Some placements also offer supervision which is in addition to that provided by The Academy S.P.A.C.E supervisors.
Students also have access to a small library and can borrow up to three books at a time. We also supply tea, coffee and biscuits for those important breaks between sessions.
The deadline for applications is the end of May and interviews take place in June.
If you have any questions about the Diploma course do get in touch with Sally by email counsellingacademy@gmail.com
07977 287485
enquiries@counsellingacademy.org