Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Level 2 Equivalent)

A supportive first step into counselling training

Build confidence, self-awareness and core listening skills

If you have completed a Level 1 course (or equivalent), or you are beginning to explore counselling more seriously, this course offers a strong and supportive next step.

Our Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Level 2 Equivalent) is designed to help you start developing the qualities, awareness and skills that sit at the heart of therapeutic work. You will begin to understand what it means to listen well, reflect deeply, and relate to others in an ethical, respectful and boundaried way.

This course supports both personal development and the early stages of professional training. It offers an experiential introduction to counselling skills, theory, self-awareness and reflective practice, helping you decide whether further training is right for you.

Who this course is for?

This course is suitable if you:

Have completed a Level 1 course and want to continue your training
Are interested in counselling, helping work or personal development
Want to build your confidence in listening and relating skills
Would like a gentle but meaningful introduction to counselling theory and practice
Are exploring whether progression to Level 3 or further training feels right for you

You do not need to have everything figured out. You do need openness, curiosity, emotional readiness and a willingness to reflect.

What can I do with a counselling qualification?

What you will learn

Core skills, self-awareness and an introduction to counselling practice

Our Foundation Certificate in Counselling (Level 2 Equivalent) offers an accessible, supportive introduction to the world of counselling.

You will begin to explore the foundations of therapeutic work, including how to listen with care, respond thoughtfully, reflect on your own process, and understand the importance of boundaries, ethics and self-awareness.

There will be space for discussion, paired skills work, tutor demonstrations and reflective learning throughout, so that you are not just learning ideas, but beginning to experience what counselling skills feel like in practice.

Course structure

Total qualification time: 10 weeks
Guided learning hours: [insert]
Home study: Students should expect some reading, reflective writing and assignment work outside of class each week

You will be introduced to topics such as:

Active listening
Empathy and presence
Boundaries
Confidentiality
Beginnings and endings
Self-awareness
Reflective practice
Difference and diversity
Ethical awareness
Introduction to key counselling approaches
Basic helping skills
Listening without fixing
Working with silence
Building confidence in skills practice

There will also be written and reflective elements to help you deepen your learning and begin building an evidence base for your understanding.

The course is quality checked by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS) and has been created and shaped by us in response to students and current counselling environment.

Contact Us With Questions

Outcome of the Course

On completion of this course, you will have:

A recognised introduction to counselling study at Level 2 equivalent
A stronger understanding of what counselling training involves
Greater self-awareness and reflective capacity
Increased confidence in communication and listening skills
A clearer sense of whether you would like to progress to Level 3 equivalent training

This course does not qualify you to practise as a counsellor. It is designed as a foundation stage, giving you the opportunity to grow in confidence, deepen your understanding, and prepare for further counselling training.

For many students, it also strengthens skills that are valuable in areas such as support work, education, care, coaching, leadership and other people-focused roles.

FOUNDATION CERTIFICATE DATES & FEES

For every student enrolled, we promise to plant a tree.

We are proud to support One Tree Planted, a non-profit organisation focused on global reforestation. On your course with us, growth is not just personal. It reaches outward too.