Your journey into counselling starts here...
Whether you're beginning with counselling skills or progressing towards professional practice, we'll help you understand the training pathway that's right for you.
ACE Learning Experience
ACE is committed to provide a nurturing learning environment in which students can develop
Learning to become a counsellor can be challenging, rewarding and personally transformative. We aim to create learning environments in which students can be heard, valued, challenged and supported. Our classrooms therefore reflect many of the principles we expect students eventually to bring to therapeutic relationships
Respect • Empathy • Authenticity • Curiosity • Difference • Reflection • Accountability
Students are encouraged to participate actively in their learning and to develop the confidence to question, reflect and think critically about counselling practice
A relational Person-Centred Approach is the foundation
The quality of the therapeutic relationship lies at the heart of effective counselling. Our educational philosophy is therefore underpinned by the Person-Centred Approach. A humanistic philosophy which puts the client at the centre of the counselling work. Students are encouraged to understand counselling theory deeply while developing the capacity to work relationally, ethically and reflectively with clients. As students progress through their training, they are supported to develop an increasingly sophisticated understanding of therapeutic practice and their own developing identity as a counsellor. At advanced levels, this provides the foundation from which students can explore wider therapeutic perspectives and develop an informed and coherent approach to practice.
Registrations Open - Courses starting from September 2026
Online Level 3 (CST-L3) Counselling Studies
Starting January 2027 / Online / LIVE Interactive and Engaging throughout the sessional day. Approx 6 month duration. Saturday / all-day / Fortnightly
Level 4 (TC-L4) BACP Approved (APQ)
From January 2027 at the followig locations: SE London / Winchester. Next course starting at University of Winchester / Sundays / all-day / Fortnightly
Why choose ACE
Specialist counselling education
Counselling isn't simply one subject amongst many at ACE, it is at the centre of what we do. We don't simply prepare students to achieve a qualification. We work with you to develop knowledge and skills for the responsibilities of therapeutic practice.
Learn through experience
Counselling cannot be learnt from textbooks alone. Skills practice, experiential exercises, reflection and personal development are integral to our training
Develop the person of the counsellor
Understanding yourself is fundamental to understanding how you relate therapeutically to others
Ethical practice from the beginning
Ethics isn't treated as a separate subject. Ethical awareness, professional responsibility and accountability are embedded throughout training
Experienced qualified counsellors / educators
Students learn with Tutors who understand both therapeutic practice and the particular demands involved in becoming a qualified counsellor
A clear professional pathway
Whether you are exploring counselling for the first time or developing your professional practice. ACE provides opportunities to progress through nationally recognised counselling qualifications
Meet our team at ACE
Professional Counsellors and Educators
ACE Tutors bring together professional counselling experience, teaching expertise and an understanding of the personal and professional journey involved in becoming a counsellor.
Your journey in becoming a qualified counsellor
Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
A fast-track 6 month course which explores counselling and develop foundational counselling skills and begin exploring self-awareness, communication and helping relationships. Progression to Level 3 usually starts a month after the Level 2 is completed
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Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies
A fast-track 6 month course which prepare for practitioner training developing a deeper understanding of counselling theory, ethics, self-awareness and the therapeutic relationship.
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Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Level 4 is a 2-year course representing a significant transition: from learning about counselling to training for professional therapeutic practice. Students develop their ability to integrate counselling theory, therapeutic skills, self-awareness, ethical decision-making and reflective practice while undertaking supervised work with clients. Our approach maintains a strong Person-Centred Approach foundation combined with an integration of a Pluralistic Approach while encouraging students to develop an informed and coherent understanding of advanced therapeutic practice. This Approved Higher Technical Qualification (HTQ) and preferred BACP Approved Practitioner Qualification (APQ) pathway is integral to the course
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Qualified Practice
Begin your professional journey as a qualified therapeutic counsellor and continue developing through supervision, reflective practice and continuing professional development.
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Advanced Professional Development
Continue developing specialist therapeutic knowledge and professional competence through further training.
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Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision
Develop the knowledge, relational capacity and professional judgement required to supervise other counselling practitioners
A unique approach to learning
Options for either Online (Face to Face) or at an ACE Training Centre (In-Person). A blending of both Online and a specific Centre is also offered with some of the courses.
Academy of Counselling Education (ACE Courses)
CPCAB is the UK's leading counselling awarding organisation regulated by Ofqual, CCEA and Qualifications Wales
