Level 4 Counselling Training
You will receive 62 OFQUAL credits when you complete this industry-recognised training course.
Once you start your placement, you will also be able to apply to a suitable counselling membership body, such as the BACP, UKCP or the NCPS.
In order to provide you with an exceptional training experience, we aim to keep our class sizes small (up to 15 learners in a class) so you can be sure that you will be learning at a high, interactive level. We deliver 30% of the level 4 counselling course online via a remote learning platform, while the remaining 70% will be taught in-person.
This course is exam free, where you will be required to complete a portfolio of your placement hours to qualify for the diploma.
Please note you will need to have completed up to a Level 3 certificate in counselling via face-to-face or remote learning to qualify for this course. We do not accept distance learning or online courses as prior qualifications.
Upon enrollment, we will provide you with seven free CPD events, 25 hours of personal therapy for free and low-cost supervisors.
Becoming a qualified counsellor
Upon successful completion of the Level 4 Diploma in Counselling, you will be a qualified counsellor. This training also allows you seven free specialist CPD training days with us, which will permit you to evolve your knowledge and training in specified areas of counselling. We have plenty of options for these specialist CPD events, which include:
Understanding Substance Misuse/Addictions
Understanding Mental Health
See our CPD events for further information on the dates for specific training days. This diploma in therapeutic counselling training allows you to become a qualified, safe, competent, and creative counsellor, and you have a 4 week cooling off. Alongside the full understanding of how to apply theories and techniques this training will provide you with, our CPD events allow you to further your understanding and approaches in specialised areas.
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You will be required to attend an interview in order to secure a place on the Diploma training. This can be face-to-face or remotely (e.g., via Zoom).
What is Level 4 Counselling?
This course is being provided as a blended learning experience, with 70% face-to-face at one of our centres and 30% of the training being provided remotely (via Zoom or similar platform).
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In this course, you will learn to blend two theories of Transactional Analysis - a personality and communication model - with Gestalt - an experiential model of the unconscious processes, perceptions and exploration of senses and awareness. You will use creative learning to enable you to provide safe and effective interventions when applying techniques to specific, sensitive issues. For example, anxiety, depression, bereavement and phobias.
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The blending of these two approaches will allow you to be an integrative counsellor, using the skills, theories and techniques of both models to apply to your counselling sessions.
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Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
In order to obtain your diploma, you will need to complete 100 hours of supervised practice. We can provide up to 45 hours of practice time, or we can do our best to help you to secure a placement nearer to where you live. We have a list of approved low-cost supervisors who support and work with our learners to provide the supervision needed for SEG-accredited training.
Upon successfully achieving your Level 4 diploma in counselling as a result of completing this course, you will be an industry-recognised, qualified counsellor and able to apply to the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society and/or BACP for membership. This also means you’ll be able to work in both private practices or organisations.
Following this, you will have the opportunity to complete our Psychotherapy Diploma and/or the Supervision Diploma and provide supervision to our learners, as you will understand the training and expectations from this diploma. Alternatively, we can provide you with a career route to gain further industry-accepted training.
We have won the "Counselling Training Provider of the Year" award for 2023 & 2024.
Course fees
The course fee is £4,800 in total and covers tutoring, marking of assignments, a full workbook, realia resources and one submission of your portfolio. Interest-free payment plans are available.
Payment plan 1: £500 deposit and 4 payments of £1,075 (2 payments per year – months 2, 8, 14, 19)
Payment plan 2: £500 deposit and 20 monthly payments of £215
Course absences
You are entitled to miss up to 20% of the training for holidays etc. For example:
84 week fast track = 16 days' absence
21 months = 4 full weekends or 8 days' absence
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Please note that your place is at risk if you do not maintain the regular agreed payments.
What you can expect to learn
You will blend and integrate Transactional Analysis with Gestalt Theory and cover concepts and specialisms including:
Legal and ethical issues
Safeguarding and mental health assessments
Diversity and culture
Contracts and treatment planning
Developmental and transferential issues
Cycles of awareness and development and perception
Research and presentations
How will you be assessed?
There is no exam. You will complete a portfolio based on your placement experience that is externally marked by an examiner from the Skills & Education Group.
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Contact us if you have completed up to a level 3 certificate in counselling and want to officially qualify as a safe, competent and exceptional counsellor with an excellent depth of knowledge and an amazing repertoire of skills and techniques.
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You will need to attend an interview prior to being accepted onto the diploma course, and we will need proof of a level 3 certification.
Specialisms, including bereavement, DV and sexual abuse
Modern day slavery and human trafficking
Online/remote training* (so you can provide counselling online)
Sand tray process
Specific techniques to apply when working with clients to help reduce physical/emotional/psychological pain and disturbance
Reflective process and so much more!
*you will have extra CPD learning for this FREE, as well as the FREE 6 CPD events, which you gain a certificate for each one.
This course will include
Unit 1: Professional organisational issues in counselling
Unit 2: Power & Diversity
Unit 3: Theory and philosophy - Transactional Analysis (TA), Person Centred approach and Gestalt
Unit 4: Advanced counselling skills with theoretical applications
Unit 5: Self-awareness and personal development
Unit 6: Research
Unit 7: Counselling placement and portfolio
These assignments are approximately at a minimum of 3000 words, but may be a little more or less for different assignments. They will be typed using the English Language and answered as the questions request using full sentence structures.
Personal journals are expected, but how you keep them/when is up to you - they are to help with your learning for unit 6. We do not mark personal journals
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You will complete 100 hours of supervised placement working with the general public. We can provide some of your placement hours with our partnerships, but can also recommend agencies in specific areas that we know of.
Course dates for Level 4 Diploma in Counselling
​​​​​​​Saturday /Sunday 24th & 25th May 2025 - 28th February 2027 0ne weekend per month x 21 months. 70% centre based, 30% remote learning 9.30am - 5.30pm each day . You are entitled to free personal counselling & 7 free CPD events.
​Subject to any changes
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​​​​Fast Track : Tuesday 15th April 2025 - 1st Dec 2026 9.30am- 1.30pm x 84 weeks. you will be entitled to 7 CPD events & free personal counselling 70% centre based, 30% remote learning.
subject to any changes
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Fast Track: Thursday 8th May 2025 - 21st January 2027
9.30am - 1.30pm x 2 days per month, as well as one full day 9.30am - 5.30pm (x 1 full day per month. 4 weekly) over 84 weeks
You will be entitled to free personal counselling and 7 free CPD events. 70% centre based and 30% remote learning
Subject to any changes
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Enrol now
Reserve your place now. Places are limited.
You can pay your deposit of £500 using debit/credit card via the payment options below only when you have completed the interview process & been offered a place. The deposit is non refundable.​
Supported payment methods:
Get qualified with our courses
This is your final step in becoming a counsellor; with our expert training, Key Counselling Training will help you achieve the best qualification and give you full support in the future with your Level 4 Counselling Diploma. Contact our team and they will be happy to answer any questions you have or advise on the best course for you based on where you currently are on your journey to becoming a counsellor.
