Counselling

The value of counselling in improving wellbeing and quality of life is increasingly recognised. From everyday worries to serious mental health issues like chronic anxiety and depression, counsellors and psychotherapists are helping us cope.

Although you can begin the Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling without prior qualifications, we recommend that you complete the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling before registering for this qualification, as this covers the Stage 1 element of this Diploma of Higher Education. Once you have completed your CPCAB Level 4 Diploma at a participating CPCAB Centre, you can transfer the 120 credits from the CPCAB Diploma when you register for this OU qualification. If you have not already completed the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma, you need to make sure that it is delivered by a centre in your area, as otherwise you cannot complete the Diploma of Higher Education. Entry to the CPCAB Level 4 course requires the completion of the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills or its equivalent, plus the CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies or its equivalent, such as the OU module, Introduction to counselling (D171) (now discontinued), a successful interview with the training provider. The 'Find a Centre' link on the CPCAB website can help you find where your closest CPCAB Centre is located to complete these three qualifications. You should then contact the centre to check whether it offers the qualifications in the year you plan to start studying. You can find out more information about the entry requirements on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences website.