🌿 How to Choose the Right Counselling Training (Without Overwhelm)

🌿 How to Choose the Right Counselling Training (Without Overwhelm)

By Catherine Drewer – Training By Liberty

Starting your counselling training journey is exciting, meaningful… and let’s be honest, a bit overwhelming. Most people don’t wake up one morning thinking, “Today I’ll become a counsellor”.  Or like me wonder what’s next as you lose a job you hated and just signed up for the next available course. It’s usually a long, quiet pull towards something that feels deeply important.

But then you start researching courses and suddenly you’re met with Acronyms, Awarding Bodies, Training companies, Levels, Diplomas, Certificates, placement hours, registers, more acronyms, and wildly different price tags. It’s no wonder so many people tell me that they don’t know where to start or even understand what starting might look like.

If that’s you — take a breath. You’re not alone, and it doesn’t need to feel this confusing.

In this blog, I’ll walk you through the key things to think about when choosing your training, so you can make a confident, grounded decision that genuinely fits your life and your goals.

🔍 1. Get clear on WHY you want to train

People come to counselling training for different reasons:

• A long-held desire to help people

• Wanting deeper self-understanding

• A change of career into something meaningful

• Building skills for a current role

• Personal growth after a difficult life experience

• Just want to be a therapist

Your reasons matter. They shape the pace, the level, and the style of learning that will suit you. Try asking yourself: “What do I hope will be different for me after this training? What is the ultimate goal for me here?”

🧱 2. Understand the basic training pathways

A lot of the confusion comes from terminology. In the UK, the typical route looks like:

Certificate → Diploma → Professional Practice (and beyond)

• Introduction (Level 1 or 2)

A gentle, foundational course. Great if you’re brand new or not sure yet.

• Certificate (Level 2/3)

  The first step towards understanding what counselling is and why you need to study to do it.

• Diploma (Level 4)

  This is your main counsellor training, referred to as “Core Training”. It includes placement, supervision, ethics, theory, skills practice — the works.

• Advanced CPD & Specialist Training

  Perfect for those ready to deepen their practice or move towards higher levels (e.g., SCoPEd Column B).

  
  

Each step builds on the one before it. We learn in layers. If you’re unsure which one you’re ready for, that’s completely normal.

Starting the learning journey

👥 3. Think about the learning environment that feels right for you

This is a big one, and something people don’t always consider until halfway through a course.

Do you thrive in:

• small groups?

• personal connection?

• feeling genuinely seen by your tutor?

• discussion, practice, and live feedback?

• Or do you prefer larger, more anonymous environments?

  
  

At Training By Liberty, we deliberately keep classes tiny — usually 9 learners — because therapeutic training needs space, safety, and a relational atmosphere. It’s simply a different experience than being “one of 30” in a classroom.

Ask yourself: “Where will I feel safe enough to learn deeply?”

⏰ 4. Be honest about your time, energy, and life circumstances

Counselling training is wonderful — and demanding and even if you never counsel a client outside of the placement requirement you will never regret doing it.  But, the thing you will absolutely learn the most about is yourself, and that’s quite a tough bit of the journey – but worth it.

You’ll need time for:

• classes

• reading

• reflection

• placement

• supervision

Look at your diary and your season of life. Is now the right time? Is next year better? Do you need part-time? Evening? Weekend? Good training adapts to your reality, not the other way around.

Remember that Core training is a big learning and time commitment, so you will need a support network to manage it well and not be exhausted by the demands that will be added to all the pieces of your current life.

💸 5. Look at value, not just cost

Prices vary wildly across providers. Here’s what REALLY matters:

• Class size

• Tutor experience

• Accreditation

• Support with placements

• Reflective environment

• Ethics and quality standards

• Whether the training actually prepares you for real clients

Cheaper courses often end up costing more — in stress, in additional training, or in needing to repeat pathways later.

💬 6. Don’t decide alone — speak to a real person

This is the bit that most people skip, even though it’s the easiest way to find clarity.

A 15-minute conversation with a tutor often answers questions that hours of Googling simply can’t.

You get to:

• Sense the training course ethos and decide if you can trust that you will be supported in this learning

• Feel that the course will get you where you need to go

• sense the teaching style

• feel whether the relationship is right

• ask real, personal questions

• explore your hopes and fears

• get tailored guidance

Most people tell me they feel calmer and clearer within the first five minutes. 

🌿 If you’re thinking about training, let’s talk.

I love these conversations. No pressure, no sales pitch — just honesty and helpfulness.

You can book a free 15-minute chat with me here:

👉 Book a call with Catherine

Bring your questions, your uncertainties, or your excitement — whatever stage you’re at.Together, we’ll explore what the right next step looks like for you. Even if the next step is not now, or not with Training By Liberty, let  me help you be clearer about what you need

Warmly,

Catherine

Training By Liberty

Tree of Growth