Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4)
Next Course starts 26th September 2024
The course is designed to produce an environment to explore, experience, take risks and develop personally. It is a space to think for yourself. We create a learning community where your skills are assessed and encouraged.
We support the development of self actualisation and professionalism by integrating physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual growth.
This is a Path of the Heart, where every person is an individual who will be nurtured for who they are.
As no two human beings are the same, we recognise that no one theory and no one spiritual practice will either make sense of, or be applicable to, all persons.
We will introduce a Sweet Track Psycho-Spiritual Core Model and then encourage trainees to begin a process of exploration and research to develop their own personal Psycho-Spiritual Core Belief System. Trainees will build on their previous theory through workshop modules and personal research. By working within their own core system trainees develop a deep understanding and clarity of how their personal beliefs, attitudes, values and assumptions relate to their core system. The inner process and development of the trainees play a central role, interfaced with course material. To help achieve this, trainees will have a process of tutor and peer assessment and supervision.
This course consists of in-depth study, blending theoretical learning, self exploration, self research and core developmental stages.
A spiral model is implemented throughout the course, so that each year we build on previous teachings, allowing trainees to deepen and extend their learning.
The balance is 70% experiential and 30% written work.
Sweet Track Spiritual Counselling
Having awareness of a spiritual identity: we are all more than our personalities and our problems. Faith in Self: that we have within us the wisdom to make the right choices. Faith in potential: that every situation has a potential for growth. Faith in the journey: that our lives have meaning. Faith in Spirit: that we are truly Spiritual Beings.
Sweet Track Core Psycho-Spiritual Theory
In Spiritual Counselling the emphasis is on wholeness, dealing with the whole person, and assisting the client in inner balance and integration of all the dimensions of Self. It is experiential and focuses on the client’s individual experiences and reality; the sessions are non-prescriptive and individually tailored. Through Mindfulness we move from the how to be with clients to holding the Being nature.
Psycho-Spiritual Counselling takes the Soul, rather than the Mind, as its starting point of balance. It has an expanded view of life, recognising that the world is a complex mystery, and takes into account belief systems, energy systems, psychic realities, karmic interplay, subconscious and superconscious states, etc.
Theory is crucial to help understand why we do what we do. The philosophy of the course is that there is no one single approach, but we emphasise the need to work authentically as a counsellor. Theories are introduced progressively throughout the course. The course focuses on a Humanistic, Transpersonal, Person-Centred, Psycho-Spiritual approach.
The course stresses on the importance of the therapeutic relationship and students are taught communication skills to maintain this relationship. Communication is of empathy, unconditional positive regard and congruence. Personal insights and theories help trainees to understand and deepen this relationship.
Trainees’ Personal Psycho-Spiritual Core Belief System
Through an Integrative approach this course allows trainees to form their own personal and authentic way of working.
Through self identity and self exploration trainees develop their own approach based on their personal values and beliefs. We feel that this authenticity creates an easier learning process, and creates counsellors who are more grounded and “True to Self”, allowing their clients to be so.
Trainees will explore human development, life stages, transitions, crises, personality and identity development. Through researching their core belief systems and key developmental stages, they see how the personality is formed, and how this identity guides them through their pathways in the world.
Trainees develop their own ways of working, their own personal counselling style and model, which is compatible with their core beliefs and values, a style within keeping with their own personality.
Trainees will apply psychological ways of thinking to their self knowledge. They will synthesise their own ideas with those of the core theoretical models coherently and be able to justify their own ideas. They will also explore how compatible their model is with working with different groups of clients.
To ensure your own theory can be put into practice we will use Carkhuff scales-skills checklist, peer feedback, supervision and self reflection on client session.
Self development and creativity for its own sake
There is an emphasis on personal and spiritual development, and self research throughout the course, and trainees are encouraged to develop their own unique and specific talents.
Ongoing self exploration and self research creates clear and grounded boundaries between personal issues and clients’ issues, a clarity without any dogma, enabling an openness to meet and learn from our clients. Self awareness enables congruence and empathic attunement to meet the client as equals.
Personal awareness includes an exploration of psychological needs, blind spots and strengths. Spiritual awareness includes an exploration into global and personal developments. It means looking at critical areas and understanding where this comes from. Self development and spiritual awareness is explored in the group process, personal development exercises, research assignments, creativity projects and in personal therapy.
Main Elements of the Course
- Personal awareness development
- Depth psycho-spiritual Core Process model of Personal Development.
- Theory and ideas behind counselling
- Being Nature, Mindfulness and Deep Listening Practice
- Communication and counselling skills practice
- Professional practice and ethical issues
Course Modules – click here for a full list of modules
Ethics
We believe counselling to be a profession that is both a privilege and a responsibility. We support regular supervision and work within the BACP Code of Ethics and Practice.
Qualification
TC-L4 is accredited by the Office of the Qualifications and Examination Regulator (Ofqual) into the RQF (Regulated Qualification Framework). Qualification Number 500/8088/X. Sector endorsement: Skills for Health. Sector subject area: 01.3 Health and Social Care.
Points Awarded
Level 4 credit value 120.
Supervision
Trainees need to be in supervision at all times whilst seeing clients in agency work.
Peer Supervision
Each teaching session there will be peer supervision to support your client work, give and receive feedback, and share learning.
Group Process
Each weekend there will be group process time for self exploration, group dynamics, processing, and for active deep and mindful listening.
Clinical Practice
Gaining 100 hours practical experience to develop a safe practice within an agency placement along with supportive supervision.
Tutor Tutorials
Trainees have 2 tutorials with two tutors to discuss personal and professional development.
Tutors
Jane Sanders, Judith Schuepfer-Griffin, Dawn Harding & Mike Tarpey
Cost & Payment Options level 4
Cost: £3,625 per year, which makes the total cost for the two years £7,250 payable by instalments.
*There is a 5% discount if the full course cost is paid in full prior to course start date.**
The cost includes all examination and registration fees.
A £500 deposit secures your place and the balance can be paid by 18 monthly instalments (details available on request).
Level 4
This course contains 480 Guided Learning hours plus recommended time needed for study time or any other activities that aren’t supervised by a tutor of 724 hours. Total Qualification Time (TQT) 1204 hours.
18 monthly teaching blocks.
Students must attend a minimum of 80% of the course.
This qualification is intended for candidates who want to train to become a counsellor working in a counselling service agency. Successful completion of this course means that the trainees will be able to provide a therapeutic counselling service within the context of an agency’s service framework.
- Work Ethically and Safely as an Agency Counsellor
- Work within a Counselling Relationship
- Work with Client Diversity
- Work within a User-Centred Agency Approach
- Work with Self-Awareness in the Counselling Process
- Work within a Framework of Counselling Theory & Skills
- Work Self-Reflectively as an Agency Counsellor
- Work ethically and safely as an independent and senior counsellor
- Work within a counselling relationship as an independent & senior counsellor
- Working with difference and diversity as an independent & senior counsellor
- Work within a user-centred approach as an independent and senior counsellor
- Work with self-awareness in a therapeutic relationship
- Work within an integrated framework of counselling theory and skills
- Work self-reflectively as an independent and senior counsellor
Client Work requirements
Level 4
Candidates must complete a minimum of 100 supervised client hours, within which they must have the opportunity to apply and develop the learning covered by the course programme. This client work must include carrying out client assessments and working over the medium term (6+ hours) with at least four clients.
Supervision – in the form of either group or one-to-one supervision – must meet BACP minimum requirements
Assessment
Level 4
Candidate Portfolio and externally-assessed audio tape and written paper. Candidates must pass both the internal and external assessment to receive the qualification.
Additional Study Time
Approx 6 – 8 hours per week – to include (for example) assignments, supervision, client work experience and personal therapy.
Personal counselling or therapy (for trainee):
Level 4
Minimum of 20 hours personal therapy per year during the life of the course.
At least two tutor-assessors will be involved in all aspects of internal candidate assessment.
Level 4 Next course starts 26th September 2024
Times: 10am – 6pm Thursday – Saturday, 10am – 5pm Sunday
Session 1 | 26th – 29th September 2024 |
Session 2 | 31st October – 3rd November 2024 |
Session 3 | 5th – 8th December 2024 |
Session 4 | 16th – 19th January 2025 |
Session 5 | 20th – 23rd February 2025 |
Session 6 | 20th – 23rd March 2025 |
Session 7 | 24th – 27th April 2025 |
Session 8 | 22nd – 25th May 2025 |
Session 9 | 12th – 15th June 2025 |
Session 10 | 17th – 20th July 2025 |
Session 11 | 4th – 7th September 2025 |
Session 12 | 2nd – 5th October 2025 |
Session 13 | 30th October – 2nd November 2025 |
Session 14 | 4th – 7th December 2025 |
Session 15 | 8th – 11th January 2026 |
Session 16 | 5th – 8th February 2026 |
Session 17 | 5th – 8th March 2026 |
Session 18 | 23rd -26th April 2026 |
External Assessment | April / May 2026: dates to be confirmed |