Your Course at a Glance
START DATE
January/
February 2026
SCHEDULE
Evenings
or Saturdays
DURATION
30 weeks
One session per week
INVESTMENT
£1,495
Payment plans available
170 hours
(90 guided + 80 self-study)
Why Choose the Standard Course?
Life is busy. Work, family, commitments – finding time for training can feel impossible. The standard course is designed around reality, not rigid schedules.
Built for Busy Lives
You don't have to choose between your responsibilities and your development. One evening per week or choose our Saturday course. Work stays intact. Family time stays intact. You stay intact.
Your Weekly Commitment
Weekly lesson: 3 hours
(Evenings 6-9pm or Mornings 9:30am-12:30pm)
Self-study: 1-2 hours
Reading, reflection, short written work
Total: 4-5 hours per week
Manageable pace – Spread your learning over 30 weeks for steady, sustainable progress
Evening and weekend options – Study after work, or chose our Saturday course, fitting around your existing commitments
Time to absorb and reflect – More space between lessons means deeper integration of learning
Lower weekly commitment – Around 3.5 hours per week (plus your session), compared to 6+ for intensive
Same qualification – Identical CPCAB Level 2 certificate and progression to Level 3
What Makes The School of Counselling Different?
Whether you choose intensive or standard, you'll experience the same quality teaching and the same depth of learning. This is what sets us apart.
You Are the
Living Textbook
Your experiences, your questions, your story – these are the curriculum. Our tutors facilitate your exploration, not lecture at you.
Held by
Qualified Counsellors
All our tutors are practicing counsellors. When emotions surface (and they will), you're in safe hands with people trained to hold that space.
Assessment That
Respects You
No rigid deadlines. Creative submissions welcomed. Written work, artwork, poetry – whatever helps you express your learning authentically.
Because we're online, you'll learn alongside students from across the UK and around the world – Austria, Spain, Dubai, Canada, and beyond. This diversity of perspectives enriches everyone's learning in ways a local classroom never could.
What You'll Learn
Over 30 weeks, you'll build foundational counselling skills through a carefully structured curriculum. Here's your journey:
📚
Weeks 1-6
Beginnings & Introductions
Respect & Confidentiality
Boundaries & Empathy
💡
Weeks 7-14
Paraphrasing & Reflection
Safety & Limits of Ability
Self-Enquiry & Curiosity
🚀
Weeks 15-24
Patterns of Relationships
Working Ethically & BACP
Timelines & Exploring Our Past
🎓
Weeks 25-30
Challenge & Challenging
Self-Reflection & Assumptions
Endings
By the End, You'll Be Able To:
Use counselling skills ethically and safely
Establish and sustain the boundaries of the helping role
Work empathically as a helper
Focus on the helpee's needs and concerns
Use self-awareness in helping work
Use a range of counselling skills to facilitate the helping interaction
Use feedback and reflection to enhance counselling skills
Is the Standard Course Right for You?
Perfect If You Are...
A working professional who needs to study around your job
A parent balancing family responsibilities
Someone who prefers steady, gradual learning over intensity
Looking for evening or weekend study options
Not in a rush to progress – taking your time feels right
Wanting space between lessons to process and reflect
Consider the Intensive If You...
Can commit one full day per week (9:30am-3pm)
Want to complete your training as quickly as possible
Thrive with immersive, intensive learning
Have flexibility during daytime hours
Are eager to progress to Level 3 sooner
Investment & Next Steps
£1,495
30-Week Standard Course
Your investment includes:
90 guided learning hours with qualified counsellor tutors
All course materials and resources
CPCAB registration fee
Ongoing tutorial support throughout your 30 weeks
Access to online learning tools (Padlet, Zoom, breakout rooms)
Payment Plans Available
£400 deposit secures your place
Remaining balance in monthly instalments
1
Enquire
Get in touch via phone or form
2
Interview
Informal chat within a week
3
Offer
Receive offer in 24 hours
4
Deposit
Secure place with £400
5
Start
Jan / Feb
2026
Or call us on 01844 612 510 to discuss your application
How You'll Be Assessed
We've designed assessment to be flexible, creative, and respectful of you as an adult learner.
Written Work
After each lesson, we set a short piece of work (around 300-400 words).
No rigid deadlines – we trust you to submit when you're ready around your other responsibilities.
Don't love writing? We welcome creativity. Students have evidenced learning through artwork, poetry, photography – whatever helps you express your understanding authentically.
In-Class Assessment
Much of your learning is evidenced through discussions, workshops, and skills practice during lessons.
This creates alternative routes for those whose strengths aren't in writing – you can demonstrate your understanding through participation and engagement.
Your tutors assess your development throughout the course, not just through written submissions.
You won't be overwhelmed. The workload is manageable – around 1-2 hours per week outside of your session. This is about building skills and self-awareness, not drowning in assignments.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the exact schedule be confirmed?
We'll confirm times closer to the start date based on student preferences. We typically offer weekday evenings (6-9pm) or a Saturday morning (9:30am-12:30pm). Once enrolled, we'll survey the group to find the best time for everyone.
Can I work full-time while doing the standard course?
Absolutely! The standard course is specifically designed for working professionals. With one 3-hour session per week (evening or Saturday) plus 1-2 hours self-study, most students balance full-time work successfully.
What if the confirmed schedule doesn't work for me?
We do our best to accommodate as many students as possible when setting schedules. If the confirmed time genuinely doesn't work, we can discuss deferring to a future cohort or potentially switching to the intensive pathway if timing aligns.
Is the standard course easier than the intensive?
It's not easier – you'll cover the same material and achieve the same qualification. The difference is pace. The standard course spreads learning over 30 weeks instead of 18, giving you more time to process and integrate between sessions.
I completed Level 2 elsewhere. Can I join your standard course?
This is a Level 2 course, so it's designed for beginners with no previous counselling training. If you've already completed Level 2, you'd progress to our Level 3 course instead.
What if I miss a lesson?
We understand life happens. The course content is spiral – topics return throughout – so one missed session isn't critical. We'll set work to help you catch up. Regular attendance is important for the relational learning, but we work with you when absences occur.
What technology do I need?
A laptop or desktop with webcam, microphone, and stable internet. We use Zoom for lessons and tools like Padlet for activities. Everything is browser-based – no special software needed.
Still have questions?
Apply for the 30-Week Standard Course
Complete the form below and we'll send you an interview invitation within 48 hours.
By submitting this form, we'll use your information only to process your application and contact you about your course.