What Our Students Say About The School of Counselling
4.4
out of 5 stars
Based on 13 verified student reviews
Students consistently describe the course as more transformative than they expected. The most common themes are personal growth, the quality of tutor support, and the value of practicing real counselling skills from early in the course.
Based on verified feedback from students who completed or are currently enrolled in our
CPCAB Level 2 online courses.
Excellent
I never expected it to be as transformative as it has been so far. I did not realise we would be practicing how to counsel in real time, early on in the course. It is empowering. Learning to be more vulnerable with my truths has been freeing and has impacted my confidence for the better.
E. Honeyjay, Autumn 2025 | Intensive Course
Very Good
I recommended the course to my partner simply from a personal growth point of view. Unlike academic learning like accountancy, this course facilitates personal growth and understanding that is of as much value as the qualification. The tutors have created a safe, progressive environment to learn in. I look forward to it every week.
M. Donnelly, Autumn 2025 | Intensive Course
Excellent
I did not expect that I would connect with people online like I have. Being able to listen without giving advice has been the most valuable aspect. I can use silence as a tool rather than filling it.
R. D, Spring 2026 | Standard Course
Excellent
My expectation was a more theoretical lecture but it was more of an interactive lecture and that was very fun. The breakout room discussions taught me active listening, silence, and how to be present in the moment to help the helpee. It is great to upskill and get a qualification.
Anonymous, Autumn 2025 | Intensive Course
Very Good
The course covers more than just learning to be a counsellor. It helps you understand yourself better through discussions and reflective work. The lessons are conversational while still covering all core counselling concepts and theories, which makes learning feel easier. The tutors are very supportive without being overbearing.
Anonymous, Autumn 2025 | Intensive Course
Very Good
I have enjoyed learning new skills and can see how I've implemented them into my own life, without intentionally trying to. Taking my own frame of reference out of conversations has proved beneficial to me in various situations with friends and customers.
Anonymous, Winter 2025 | Standard Course
Very Good
The small size of our group and the closeness of it allows meaningful connections and discussions to evolve throughout the course. As my relationship with my peers and tutor strengthens, it is allowing us to work more closely with each other during the skills practice sessions with a sense of continuity which mimics real-world therapy scenarios.
Anonymous, Winter 2025 | Standard Course
Very Good
The live weekly interactions are invaluable for me. I take away so much every single week. I have reflected a lot about why I behave the way I do and the relationships I have chosen in life.
Anonymous, Winter 2025 | Standard Course
Very Good
The small size of our group and the closeness of it allows meaningful connections and discussions to evolve throughout the course. As my relationship with my peers and tutor strengthens, it is allowing us to work more closely with each other during the skills practice sessions with a sense of continuity which mimics real-world therapy scenarios.
Anonymous, Winter 2025 | Standard Course
Excellent
The skills practice has taught me so much about myself - had a few proper epiphanies - but also strengthened my wish to continue this path to someday help others as a counsellor. I expected to learn about person-centered theory and about myself as well as connecting with others and the reality met and surpassed my expectations.
Lola Plewniak, Winter 2025 | Standard Course
Very Good
This is a perfect way to get your [Level 2] quickly and effectively. You will grow so much on this course. The valuable aspects are the open and honest conversations. I learned to lean into curiosity and put self-care and boundaries in place.
Anonymous, Autumn 2025 | Intensive Course
Excellent
The reality has been better than anything I could have expected. It has been very interesting and eye opening. This course has provided me with the language I needed to express my thoughts and feelings better, but it has also provided me with the language to help others express their feelings.
W. Fyli, Spring 2026 | Standard Course
Very Good
The live weekly interactions are invaluable for me. I take away so much every single week. I have reflected a lot about why I behave the way I do and the relationships I have chosen in life.
Anonymous, Winter 2025 | Standard Course
All reviews are from verified students who completed or are currently enrolled in our CPCAB Level 2 courses. Reviews are published with student consent. Some reviews are edited for clarity or length but meaning is preserved.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Join our next intake of CPCAB Courses. Choose from Intensive or Standard, morning or evening courses.
Or call us on 01844 612 510 to discuss your training
Areas We're Actively Developing
We believe in transparency. While most students rate their experience as Very Good or Excellent, we also receive constructive feedback that helps us improve. Here's what we're working on based on recent student input.
Development Area 1: Onboarding and Admin Clarity
What students said: Several students found the first few weeks confusing regarding SharePoint navigation, homework submission processes, and understanding the Learner Record system. Some felt this created unnecessary stress and distraction from learning.
What we're doing:
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Creating a dedicated onboarding session (Week 1) focused entirely on admin and systems
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Developing clearer video tutorials for SharePoint navigation
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Implementing automatic notifications when homework is uploaded
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Simplifying the homework submission workflow
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Providing written guides alongside verbal instructions
Timeline: Implemented for April 2026 cohorts onwards
Development Area 2: Communication and Expectations
What students said: Occasional confusion about terminology (CAS, Learner Review, homework), response times to emails, and clarity about what's required versus optional created uncertainty for some students.
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What we're doing:
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Creating a glossary of terms provided at course start
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Setting clear email response time expectations
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Distinguishing clearly between required and optional activities
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Improving consistency of information across tutors and admin
Timeline: Communication improvements in place by February 2026
Development Area 3: Workload Expectations
What students said: Some students underestimated the time commitment required, especially when balancing work, family, and other commitments. The homework load felt heavier than anticipated.
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What we're doing:
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Being more explicit in marketing about time commitment (3 hours in class + 2-3 hours self-study per week)
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Being clearer that full engagement in sessions is essential (impacts peers if you're disengaged)
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Offering realistic expectations: this is professional training, not a casual hobby course
Our stance: We won't reduce the workload (it's CPCAB-required and necessary for competence), but we'll be more transparent upfront so students can make informed decisions.
Our Commitment to Continuous Improvement
What this feedback tells us:
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Our core teaching (experiential, relational, transformative) is working well
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Students value small groups, skilled tutors, and the depth of self-reflection
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Our administrative and technological infrastructure needs refinement
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We need to be clearer upfront about expectations and commitments
What we're prioritising:
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Better onboarding (immediate - April 2026)
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Communication clarity (immediate - February 2026)
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Resource expansion (short-term - March 2026)
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Platform exploration (medium-term - research phase)
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What we're maintaining:
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Small group sizes (even if it limits revenue)
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Qualified counsellor tutors (not just teachers)
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Experiential, relational approach (even if admin-heavy)
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Realistic pricing that reflects tutor quality
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Why We Share This
We could hide constructive feedback and only show glowing reviews. But that wouldn't be congruent with our person-centered values.
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Real growth requires honest feedback. We ask students to be vulnerable in their learning; we model that same vulnerability in our business development.
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If these development areas concern you, call us on 01844 612 510 to discuss. We'll be honest about where we're strong and where we're still improving.