Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4)
Become a qualified therapeutic counsellor
Are you ready to take the final step in your professional counselling training? The CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is a two-year, part-time professional qualification designed to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies you need to work as a therapeutic counsellor. Building on your Level 2 and Level 3 learning, you’ll deepen your understanding of counselling theory, develop your therapeutic practice, work with real clients and grow into your identity as a counsellor. At Number 22, you’ll learn within a supportive community grounded in the Person-Centred Approach, with experienced counselling tutors guiding you throughout your training.
At a glance
- Start
- January 2027
- Duration
- 2 years, part time, term time only + additional workshops and experiential weekend
- Delivery
- Face to face in Maidenhead or Cookham, Berkshire
- Fee
- £3,500 per year, including CPCAB registration
- Awarding body
- CPCAB
You will need to provide evidence that you have passed a CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and CPCAB Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies qualification. You must be 18 or over.
“Studying with Number 22 is the best decision I ever made. I now get to have the career I dreamt of.”Gemma, Past student
Course Overview
The course is delivered face to face in Maidenhead & Cookham. In addition to these weekly taught sessions, the course includes an experiential weekend and approximately six additional workshops each year, usually held on Saturdays.
Fee £3,500 per year, including CPCAB registration. A payment plan is available to help you fund the course. Number 22 is not able to offer Advanced Learner Loans. Courses run during Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead term time.
Course Content
Over two years, the course builds on your Level 2 and Level 3 learning and develops the knowledge, skills and professional competencies required to work as a therapeutic counsellor.
The course focuses on seven key areas:
Working ethically, safely and professionally as a counsellor
Developing your understanding of ethical and professional responsibilities, safe practice, boundaries, confidentiality and working within an agency framework.
Working within a counselling relationship
Deepening your understanding of the therapeutic relationship and developing your ability to work effectively with clients.
Working with client diversity in counselling work
Exploring difference, diversity and the impact of individual experience, identity, culture and context within counselling relationships.
Working within a user-centred approach to counselling
Developing your ability to work collaboratively and responsively with clients while maintaining a person-centred approach.
Working with self-awareness in the counselling process
Continuing to develop your self-awareness and understanding of how your own experiences, values, beliefs and responses may influence your counselling practice.
Working within a coherent framework of counselling theory and skills
Deepening your understanding of counselling theory and developing the ability to integrate theory with your therapeutic practice.
Working self-reflectively as a counsellor
Developing your ability to critically reflect on your counselling practice, learning and ongoing professional development.
The course is grounded in the Person-Centred Approach, while helping you develop a broader understanding of counselling theory and therapeutic practice. You’ll learn through discussion, experiential activities, skills practice, reflection, workshops and real-world counselling experience. The CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is a two-year qualification with a minimum of 420 guided learning hours and a total qualification time of 1,204 hours.
Assessment
Assessing your learning with you
Level 4 is about demonstrating that you are developing the knowledge, skills, self-awareness and professional competence required of a therapeutic counsellor. Your tutors will support you throughout the two years, helping you connect theory, skills, reflection and real counselling experience. You’ll be encouraged to reflect critically on your development and increasingly take responsibility for your own learning and professional practice.
Assessment Includes
- Portfolio work and written assignments
- Practical counselling skills
- Observed skills practice
- Case studies and client work
- Reflective practice
- Self-awareness and personal development
- Application of counselling theory to practice
- Professional and ethical practice
- Tutor feedback
- Workplace and agency experience
Is this course right for you?
Level 4 is for you if you have completed Level 2 and Level 3 and are ready to take the next step towards becoming a professional counsellor. This course is right for you if you:
- Have successfully completed CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and Level 3 in Counselling Studies (or equivalent qualifications)
- Are ready to undertake professional counsellor training
- Want to develop your counselling practice with real clients in an agency setting
- Want to deepen your understanding of counselling theory
- Want to develop your professional identity as a counsellor
- Are committed to ongoing self-awareness and personal development
- Want to develop the skills and competencies required for professional counselling practice
The CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is designed to prepare you for therapeutic counselling practice within an agency context.
Successful completion means you can provide a therapeutic counselling service initially within an agency’s service framework, with the possibility of progressing towards independent practice later with appropriate experience, supervision and support.
Apply now“Studying with Number 22 has given me a much broader picture of myself.”Steve, Level 4 Year 1
Your journey to becoming a counsellor
At Level 4, you’ll have the opportunity to complete your clinical placement with Number 22 — a unique benefit of training with a local charity that provides counselling in our community. This means you can gain valuable clinical experience within a supportive agency environment while developing your skills as a counsellor. We provide heavily subsidised clinical supervision to support your placement.
Your journey beyond qualification.
CPCAB identifies a range of progression opportunities following successful completion of Level 4, including further study and qualifications. Many Number 22 graduates progress into paid roles with Number 22, supporting adults and young people in schools, GP surgeries, online and in our agency rooms.
Level 4 is where your learning becomes professional practice — and where you begin to step into your identity as a counsellor.
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Professional counselling practice
Lead Tutor
Meet Your Tutors
Your tutors are all counsellors. They’ve walked this path too and understand the demands of professional counselling training. They bring their experience as practising counsellors into the classroom, helping you connect theory with real therapeutic practice. Our teaching is grounded in person-centred humanistic counselling, while also helping you develop a broader understanding of counselling theory and the wider mental health landscape. You’ll be supported by experienced tutors throughout your two years, with opportunities to learn through discussion, experiential activities, reflection, skills practice and real client work. Julie leads the team and is also a member of Number 22’s management team, giving her unique knowledge of the skills and competencies you need to develop as you progress into professional counselling practice.
Why study with Number 22?
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1
Because your journey is your own.
We’ll support you every step of the way as you develop into the counsellor you want to be.
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2
Because we understand the journey.
We deliver a clear progression from Level 2 through Level 3 and into professional Level 4 training, allowing you to develop your knowledge and skills step by step.
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3
Because we’re experienced.
Now in our 7th year of delivering counselling courses, we’ve celebrated three Level 4 graduating cohorts.
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4
Because our courses are highly regarded.
External verifiers from the awarding body, CPCAB, have praised our teaching, tutor feedback and continued growth, describing our work as “high quality,” “developmental” and “encouraging.”
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5
Because our tutors are counsellors too.
They understand the demands of professional training and bring their experience of counselling into your learning.
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6
Because you can gain real clinical experience with us.
Our Level 4 students have the opportunity to complete their placement with Number 22, gaining valuable experience within a supportive agency setting.
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7
Because we’re a counselling service as well as a training provider.
You’re learning within a real counselling organisation, surrounded by people who understand what it means to work therapeutically with clients.
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8
Because your journey continues after qualification.
Everyone working at Number 22 plays an important part in your journey. You are supported by a wonderful clinical team who have worked across the mental health sector is a fantastic place to develop your skills, gain real experience and take the step from counselling student to professional counsellor.
Complete your journey to becoming a counsellor
Our next Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling courses start in January 2027. We offer a choice of daytime and evening study, with courses running during the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead term time. Places are limited and all applicants will be invited to an interview as part of the application process. Please complete the form to start the application process. Interviews will be scheduled shortly after your application is received.
We will respond to your application by email. You will be asked to complete an application form and then a course tutor will contact you to arrange an interview. You will need to provide evidence that you have successfully completed the CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and the Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies.
If you would like to ask any questions, please contact our course administrator at [email protected] to organise a convenient time to talk.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need previous counselling training?
Yes. Level 4 is a professional counselling qualification and you must have successfully completed CPCAB Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills and Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies, or equivalent qualifications, before starting the course.
Can I apply if I completed Level 2 and Level 3 somewhere else?
Yes. Equivalent Level 2 and Level 3 counselling qualifications will be considered. You are very welcome to apply.
Will Level 4 qualify me as a counsellor?
Yes. Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is a professional counselling qualification with which you can work as a therapeutic counsellor.
Is the Level 4 qualification BACP approved?
Yes. The course is a BACP-approved qualification, meeting the requirements of BACP SCoPEd Column A and provides a route to membership and accreditation with professional counselling associations approved by the Professional Standards Authority, subject to their individual requirements.
What is HTQ status?
The CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is officially approved as a Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) by Skills England. HTQ status confirms that the qualification meets nationally recognised, employer-defined occupational standards and prepares learners for skilled roles in the counselling profession.
Is there a placement?
Yes. Level 4 includes workplace and clinical experience, and Number 22 offers students the opportunity to complete their placement within Number 22. This gives you the opportunity to gain real client experience within a fantastically supportive agency environment. Students are also welcome to source external placements if they wish.
Is the course practical?
Yes. Level 4 combines theoretical learning with experiential learning, skills practice, reflection and real counselling experience. You’ll have opportunities to develop and demonstrate your counselling skills throughout the two years.
How is the course delivered?
The course includes weekly face to face taught sessions alongside additional workshops and experiential learning. Courses run during The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead term time. In addition to the weekly lessons, there is an experiential weekend and approximately six additional workshops each year, usually held on Saturdays.
What are the course times?
There are two study options:
Evening: 5.00pm – 9.30pm, Tuesdays
Daytime: 10.00am – 3.00pm, Thursdays
You attend one group only.
How long is the course?
The Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling is a two-year, part-time course.
How much does the course cost?
The course costs £3,500 per year. This includes your CPCAB registration fee. A range of payment options is available to help fund the course . Number 22 does not currently offer Advanced Learner Loans.
What qualification will I receive?
On successful completion, you’ll receive the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4), subject to meeting the CPCAB qualification requirements.
How old do I need to be?
CPCAB currently specifies a minimum age of 19 for the Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling TC-L4 qualification.
Is there an interview?
Yes. All applicants will take part in an interview as part of the application process. This gives us the opportunity to discuss your previous training, experience, motivation and readiness for professional counselling training.
When are the interviews?
For the January 2027 intake, interviews will take place upon completion of application.
What do I need to apply?
You will need to:
- complete the Level 4 Application Form
- provide evidence of your Level 2 and Level 3 counselling qualifications
- complete a Reference Request Form and send it to your chosen referee(s)
- attend an interview
How do I apply?
Choose your group
Evening group: 5.00pm – 9.30pm, Tuesdays or Daytime group: 10.00am – 3.00pm, Thursdays and complete the form above.