Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling | Redlands Counselling and Training

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CPCAB Level 5
Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling

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Remote DeliveryRemote Delivery
Duration
Day
Times
Course Dates
30 Evenings
Thu
4:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Thu 5 Nov 2026 to 8 Jul 2027
Delivery will be via Zoom
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Become an independent practitioner - and progress to SCoPEd Column B

The CPCAB PC-L5 Diploma is designed for qualified counsellors who want to deepen their practice, expand their professional opportunities, and confidently step into independent work. In addition this nationally recognised qualification builds on your Level 4 Diploma and equips you with the advanced skills, knowledge, and competencies required to achieve SCoPEd Column B. It entitles you to become an individually accredited member of BACP.

(For more information on what SCoPEd means read our blog)

 

A course built for real world, independent practice

This qualification supports you in developing as a humanistic integrative practitioner with the confidence and autonomy to work privately or in senior roles within organisations. You’ll deepen your understanding of the psychotherapeutic relationship, broaden your theoretical integration, and strengthen your ability to assess, formulate, and work safely with a wide range of client presentations.

The course is intentionally aligned with the SCoPEd framework, ensuring you can evidence the competencies required at Column B. This is a key step for many counsellors seeking accreditation and wider professional recognition.

Overall

The overall scope of the course can be summarised as :

  • Setting up and developing your private practice
  • Expanding your skills as an ethical and independent practitioner
  • Deepening your understanding of the psychotherapeutic relationship
  • Exploring issues of diversity
  • Introducing additional theoretical models to Integrate into your Humanistic Integrative practice
  • Continuing your personal development
  • Building your skills as a practitioner
  • Enhancing your reflective practice

What you’ll learn

Across 16 full day workshops, you’ll explore topics such as:

  • Client assessment
  • Psychodynamic principles
  • Family Systems Theory (in relationship to assessment and working with individuals)
  • Internal Family Systems
  • Trauma informed approach to client work
  • A systemic understanding of Addiction (working with those affected by someone else's addiction)
  • Introduction to Brief Solution Focused Therapy and working in Employee Assisted Programmes
  • Setting up and marketing your Practice

Over the duration of the course students will develop their skills as ethical and independent practitioners, so that they deepen their understanding of the psychotherapeutic relationship and continue their personal and professional development in a supportive, experiential learning environment.

Why students choose Redlands

Our learners consistently tell us that Redlands offers a uniquely supportive, grounded, and confidence‑building experience:

“Redlands staff and fellow students can change your life and your private practice, so that you can be prepared and confident in your abilities and to qualify at a higher level.”

“The course gave me the confidence to set up and manage my own practice.”

“Being back in a learning environment feels supportive as I embark on my new career as a private practitioner.”

Who is it aimed at?
Course Tutors
Fees & Costs
Work requirements
Assessment
Application Process

Counsellors who have completed a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (or an equivalent qualification) can step into this course with confidence. As you progress, you’ll build the knowledge, skills and competencies needed to work as a self employed counsellor in independent practice. You’ll also develop the capability to take on senior counselling roles within organisations, especially in settings where client assessment, referral and routine evaluation form part of the role.

In addition, this course gives you a clear pathway to professional progression. You’ll be able to evidence all the competencies and training requirements for SCoPEd Column B, strengthening your route toward BACP accreditation.

To explore the full qualification in more detail, visit: www.cpcab.co.uk

Carol King

Carol is an integrative counsellor and supervisor. Working in private practice since 2002, she has experience in providing short and long term counselling for several workplace agencies, self-funding clients and Employee Assistance Programmes. Theoretical models integrated within her counselling practice include Person Centred Counselling , Gestalt, Transactional Analysis (TA) and Coaching.

Carol is a registered Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Carol has been delivering CPCAB courses with us since 2008, including Levels 2-6.

Kate Dalton

In addition to delivering trainings for Redlands, Kate is a therapist and supervisor in private practice. Her original training was Psychodynamic, and she has evolved to incorporate TA, Gestalt, Systems thinking and IFS into her practice. She works with a trauma informed approach. After graduating in 2003 she worked with Clouds / Action on Addiction for fifteen years with individuals and families affected by someone else’s substance use. She ran groups, residential programmes and delivered trainings, including as one as the founder team creating the acclaimed M-PACT programme.

Kate is a registered Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Kate joined the Redlands team in 2018 and has taught on the CPCAB training Levels 2 to 5.

The course fees for 2026 are:

Tuition fee: £1849 (or £1699 if paid by 5.9.2026 for Nov 26 start)

plus the CPCAB registration fee: £398

Client hours

In order to complete the course students must undertake a minimum of 60 supervised client hours, and these should be as an independent practitioner. The hours can be gained whilst working privately or as a senior counsellor (with autonomy) in an agency.

Assessment will be by way of tutor Internal Assessment of your portfolio. (The external assessment requirement has been withdrawn by CPCAB).

Application Process

  1. Complete the ‘Register Your Interest’ form at the bottom of this page and we’ll send you the application form.
  2. Fill in the online application form with your personal statement and the name & email address of your clinical supervisor.
  3. We will then seek a reference from your clinical supervisor and arrange an interview with one of the course tutors.
  4. If your supervisor reference is satisfactory and your interview is successful, we will offer you a place by sending a Training Contract.

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I required to be in counselling for this course?

You are required to have had a minimum of 40 hours counselling by the end of the course, 10 hours of which needs be completed by the end of this course (i.e. previous counselling of up to 30 hours can count towards the minimum of 40 hours).

Can I apply for this course if I haven’t done counselling training but have relevant work experience?

Our qualifications are awarded by the CPCAB, and the Level 5 courses are aimed at post-qualification counsellors, who have completed the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling or equivalent training.  We cannot accept relevant work experience to meet this entry requirement.

What is the progression route?

Subject to tutor recommendation and CPCAB Guidelines, progression is to any of the Level 5 or Level 6 courses we offer. These can be viewed on our website.

Is there funding for the course, including the Advanced Learner Loan?

As Redlands is an independent training provider, we are not part of the Government-Funded Advanced Learner Loan scheme. For this reason, our learners are self-funded.

We do aim to keep our costs at a level which make all our courses accessible, whilst maintaining excellent quality.  There is an early payment discount for this course, and the details and deadline for this is on the Fees and Costs section of the webpage.

The Scope of Practice and Education (SCoPEd) is a competency framework that sets out the core training requirements and standards for counsellors and therapists working in the  UK. For students, it’s a roadmap.
For training providers, it’s a benchmark. For clients, it’s reassurance. You can read more about it here.