Anyone trained with Place2Be? And other counselling training questions.

[ferrisbeuller]

posting on here for traffic. I’m currently halfway through my Level 3 certificate in Counselling. Looking to apply for a Level 4 or possibly postgraduate Diploma in order to qualify to practice eventually.

My background is in teaching - state secondary HOY (PGCE) and I also have a Masters in education. In recent years since being a Mum I’ve stopped school teaching and I have been lecturing plus volunteering in a kids outdoor education type project for vulnerable children.

I was looking at all the Level 4 diploma courses but can’t seem to make them work around my DC’s and their school pick up.

At the same time I’m thinking about working towards school counselling, but not sure if I should specialise in young people yet or not.

I was looking at the Place2Be training. They have a Level 4 one year programme, which looks pretty intense timing-wise, and also a Level 7 postgraduate diploma. I think I’d be eligible to apply for that one after completing my Level 3 course.

Has anyone on here got experience of training at Place2Be? The Level 4 or the Level 7?
Or has anyone in here moved into counselling with young people from teaching or another career?

I would love to hear any thoughts as courses are opening up for applications and it’s a minefield as there are so many options and variations.

I didn’t train with them, but I know people
who did.
Take the level 7 option if you can. It’s a more robust training route, and will give you more options. It will take longer, but it’s worth it. I don’t know if that’s available with place2be.
I did my course at weekends. It was one a month and it meant no childcare worries. Places like Minster, Metanoia and Sherwood offered that at the time. I don’t live in London, but it was manageable to go once a month. HTH

I am fairly sure you could get a placement at Place2Be whilst studying elsewhere. My concern would be you would only be qualified to work with young people, if you do this route. I recruit & mentor student counsellors as part of my job and some students have had placements there and with my organisation and studied elsewhere. I hear good things about Place2Be placements. I would try and get 2 so that you have a more diverse experience and career options post graduation. Level 7 will put you in a good position with ScopEd & BACP accreditation.

i don’t think you can do the level 7 till you have become a qualified counsellor which will involve you doing a minimum of 100 hours placement. It is a huge commitment to retrain, but I always say to my students that you are literally training to be a mental health professional and would you as a client want to sit in front of someone who hasn’t comprehensively trained to do the job?

You can do a level 7 without qualifying first as a counsellor. I did. You do a placement as part of that too, usually 450 hours, but you can practice as a trainee earning, before then.

thank you so much for the input. Yes, from what I’ve seen I would be eligible for the Level 7. I already have an MA, PGCE, BA and a lot of years experience working with children & young people plus the Certificate in counselling when completed so according to Place 2 Be website that would make me eligible.

Does anyone know of any other Level 7 postgraduate courses which lead to being able to practice which they can recommend? I really need it to fit around childcare.