Level 2 & 3 Certificate in Counselling Skills
A professionally recognised qualification that equips you with the foundational skills to listen deeply, support others meaningfully, and take your first step into the world of counselling.
Approved by CPCAB | NCPS Recognised
CHAMBERS COUNSELLING INSTITUTE
Professional, CPCAB-Accredited & BACP-Aligned Experiential Counselling Training
A New Era for Our Training Division
To better accommodate our growing student community, Right Direction Counselling Services is in the process of transitioning all academic tracks into a dedicated, standalone home: Chambers Counselling Institute.
Our training continues to strictly follow the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework. Furthermore, we are fully committed to adhering to all CPCAB (Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body) assessment standards, criteria, and internal verification processes to ensure your qualification is recognized nationwide.
Chambers Counselling Institute
THE EXPERIENTIAL DIFFERENCE: YOU ARE THE TEXTBOOK
What sets Chambers Counselling Institute completely apart from traditional academic environments is our deeply intensive, experiential approach to learning.
🚫 Beyond Lectures
We completely move past traditional, passive, and one-sided classroom lectures. You won't just sit and listen to dry theory—you will actively live it and apply it.
📖 The Student is the Textbook
Your unique life experience, self-awareness, relational blind spots, and internal processes form the core text we unpack, analyze, and safely explore together.
🗣️ Group-Facilitated Discussions
Deep personal reflection is unlocked via safely held, interactive group processes designed to build the raw emotional resilience required of a great counsellor.
⚡ Crucial Practical Skills
You will be translating theoretical models into practical clinical competence through focused, interactive peer triad practice blocks and intensive workshops.
🚨 Key Recruitment Milestones – September 2026 Intake
We are currently screening candidates for our upcoming autumn cohorts. To maintain our deeply intensive, safely held group environment, cohorts are strictly capped at a maximum of 12 students per track.
August 17, 2026
Early Bird Registration & Discount Fee Deadline
Late August 2026
Final Weekly Calendars & Syllabus Packs Issued
September 2026
Live Course Induction & Cohort Cohere Blocks Begin
OUR VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills (CSK-L2)
The Foundational Pillar of Intensive Therapeutic Communication
Intensive Skills Pathway
This foundational qualification introduces you to the core principles of the counseling framework. This is an intensive, practical course explicitly tailored for individuals with no prior counseling experience, placing a high value on life history, emotional openness, and a genuine willingness to self-reflect. Ideal for career-changers, healthcare practitioners, team managers, or anyone looking to master active listening.
What Is Covered Across the Intake Tracks:
- ✔️ Establishing safe, professional, and ethical therapeutic boundaries
- ✔️ The basic mechanics of active listening, paraphrasing, and non-verbal reflection
- ✔️ Experiential study of personal motivations, blind spots, and family dynamics
- ✔️ How to safely map your practical student practice sessions to the BACP Ethical Framework
CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3)
Deepening Theory, Professional Ethics, and Agency Frameworks
Designed as a direct progression path for students who have successfully achieved their Level 2 Certificate. This intermediate qualification moves beyond foundational communication to explore complex counseling theories, psychological frameworks, and the inner workings of community counseling agencies. Full structural details and intake plans will be formally released as our current internal cohorts progress.
Core Competencies Include:
- ✔️ Deep dive analysis of major humanistic, psychodynamic, and cognitive models
- ✔️ Understanding how diversity and cultural context impact the therapeutic alliance
- ✔️ Preparing for the rigorous demands of clinical placement environments
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these courses accredited?
Yes. All of our structural qualification paths are fully accredited by the Counselling & Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB), the UK's leading specialist awarding body for the therapeutic sector. Our training frameworks strictly adhere to the professional standards set out by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).
What is the difference between the 30-week and the 18-week intensive tracks?
Both delivery methods contain exactly the same curriculum, learning outcomes, assessment tasks, and provide the mandatory 90 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) required by the CPCAB framework. The 30-week format spaces training sessions evenly across a standard academic calendar, whereas the 18-week intensive track delivers the curriculum in a more compressed, immersive timeframe—requiring a higher weekly study commitment.
How is the training delivered online?
Training sessions are held live via secure, interactive digital platforms. We explicitly avoid passive, pre-recorded lectures. Instead, your sessions will consist of live interactive seminars, tutor-led group processes, and real-time breakout rooms for skills practice and peer triad feedback.
Do I need prior experience to join the Level 2 course?
No formal counseling qualifications or prior academic experience in psychology are required. We look specifically for life experience, emotional maturity, open-mindedness, and a genuine willingness to engage in personal reflection and vulnerability within a supportive group setting.
Are there flexible options for paying tuition fees?
Yes. Students can choose to pay their full tuition fees in advance to secure an early bird discount (when registering before August 7, 2026), or take advantage of our flexible interest-free payment framework, which spreads the investment across a three-part instalment plan during the course.
READY TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN YOUR CAREER?
Apply now to get your counselling journey set in motion.
ApplyMore Frequently Asked Questions
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No. The Level 2 is designed as an introductory qualification; no prior counselling training or experience is required. All you need is an open mind, a genuine interest in helping others, and a willingness to reflect on yourself.
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That’s absolutely fine, you’re very welcome here. For Level 2, there is no formal academic entry requirement. What matters most is your motivation, your life experience, and your genuine desire to learn and remain curious. Many excellent counsellors join the profession through non-academic pathways. This is a skills-based course, and your tutor/facilitator will provide guidance and support with written work. Above all, we are interested in who you are, not just what you know on paper.
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Yes, all places are subject to a short, informal online interview. It's a friendly conversation to make sure the course is the right fit for you, and gives you the chance to ask us anything before you commit. We look forward to meeting you.
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We’'ll confirm session times closer to the course start date, based on student preferences. Once enrolled, we'll survey all students in the cohort to find the best day and time for the group. We want the schedule to work for your life as much as possible.
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There is no mandatory requirement for personal therapy at Level 2, but we warmly encourage it. Counsellor training calls for deep self-reflection and personal exploration, and having your own therapeutic support can enrich your learning while safeguarding your wellbeing throughout. Many students find it genuinely valuable, and the profession regards it as increasingly important at higher levels of training.
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You don’t need to be technically confident. If you can join a video call, you already have what you need.
Here’s what will help you get the most from the course:
- A reliable internet connection
- A laptop, desktop, or tablet (a smartphone can work, but a larger screen is more comfortable)
- A webcam and microphone (built-in or external)
- A private, quiet space for sessions
We use familiar, user-friendly video conferencing software and will walk you through the setup before the course begins. If you have any tech worries at all, just let us know we’ll try to help you get everything sorted.
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All sessions are delivered live via video conferencing. You'll join group sessions with your tutor/facilitator and fellow students, take part in skills practice and role plays, and complete reflective assignments in your own time. Full guidance is provided on enrolment.
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The Level 2 qualification is a foundational course and does not, on its own, qualify you to practice as a counsellor. However, it is an important, nationally recognised first step, and successful completion leads directly to the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies (CST-L3).
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Yes. The CPCAB CSK-L2 is a regulated qualification with NCPS Recognised Qualification status from the National Counselling & Psychotherapy Society. Ofqual register number: 500/7938/4.

