What Happens When Counselling Training Goes Wrong: A Student's Story
- Ben Jackson
- Nov 2
- 2 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
When I was a student on a CPCAB counselling course, our group approached our tutor asking for more direction – something more didactic that felt familiar from previous courses. We were passionate about this. Looking back, I can see we were reaching for certainty because uncertainty felt uncomfortable.
The tutor's response? A dismissive lecture about how we "weren't babies" and should deal with the unknown as "adult learners." And look – they weren't wrong. Uncertainty is central to counselling work, and holding that ambiguity is crucial.
But the manner was everything.
Instead of curiosity about what was happening for us, it became "you're wrong, we're right." Instead of working with our discomfort, it was buried and never returned to. We lost trust. We felt abandoned. We banded together, not in learning, but in disappointment.
The course manager had to intervene because we were so dissatisfied – not with the course content, but with how our concerns were handled. By the end of that year, both tutors had left the programme.
What I Learned About Relational Safety in Counselling Training
Here's what I learned: ruptures happen. They're inevitable when people are vulnerable and learning. The question isn't whether they'll occur – it's whether they'll be held safely when they do.
What could have been different? Curiosity. "What's making you reach for certainty right now?" would have opened a conversation instead of closing one. Acknowledging our discomfort instead of dismissing it. Returning to the rupture in the next session rather than pretending it never happened. These aren't complicated interventions – they're relational basics.
This is why we have two tutors in every group at The School of Counselling. Not just for coverage, but for perspective, support, and the ability to hold what emerges relationally – even when it's uncomfortable.
If you're researching CPCAB Level 2 or Level 3 training online, ask yourself: how does the provider handle difficult moments? Do they have the capacity to hold ruptures safely? That's not a luxury – it's essential to ethical counselling training.
About The School of Counselling
The School of Counselling is a CPCAB-approved training centre specializing in person-centred counselling training. We support students through their journey from Level 2 through to qualified practice, with experienced tutors who understand the real challenges of counselling training. We're committed to creating a supportive, reflective learning environment where you can develop both your skills and your self-awareness - because we believe the attitudinal qualities are just as important as the techniques.
