Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills

This qualification is designed for learners who wish to develop their listening skills for use in a variety of personal, professional or volunteer contexts. This qualification does not lead directly to an employed role. However, it could enhance an existing role or increase the general employability of those seeking to enter the job market.

You will learn about skills that can be used in everyday life. You will also learn to appreciate the importance of self-development. This qualification allows you to: • Learn basic counselling skills (listening and responding skills) in helping roles • Find out more about counselling (this qualification won't allow you to be a counsellor, but may help you decide whether or not you want to train as one). • Improve professional and personal relationships • Improve communication to enhance work and personal relationships or promote better community relations.

The course is delivered in classroom so learners can really benefit from peer learning, practical activities, and role play. This course is a total of 82 guided learning hours which will either be delivered in one 2.5-hour evening class a week for 33 weeks or one 5-hour daytime class a week for 18 weeks. Outside of this you will be expected to do independent reading and write assignments which will have submission deadlines throughout the course. There are no exams as you are assessed on your portfolio of evidence. You do not need a placement to complete this course. You will also be given regular homework. This will cover the knowledge aspect of the course and will involve you writing detailed assignments. Your tutor will give you feedback on your assignments and suggest ways in which you can improve.

You will need to complete an initial written assessment activity to establish your existing English and vocational skill level and make sure that the course is right for you. Ideally, you will have an English qualification at level 1 or GCSE, but if you do not have proof of this, you may be asked to undertake a specific English assessment to confirm this. This qualification is not suitable for those who are currently in a state of severe emotional difficulty and/or severe psychological distress.

Successful completion of the course will allow you to progress onto the Level 3 certificate in Counselling Skills, if appropriate. It can also be considered as the first qualification level towards becoming employed in the counselling sector. Leicester Adult Education are pleased to offer a free, impartial in-house careers service to support our learners to make decisions around their future career goals and choices. We have physical and digital resources available to support you and face to face careers appointments with our qualified and experienced adviser, all of which are easily accessed once enrolled.