AIM Qualifications Level 5 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Practice

This qualification requires learners to build on their experience of the existing AIM Awards Level 5
Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling Practice by showing:
▪ An in depth knowledge of relevant contemporary professional issues relevant in counselling,
including risk assessment, online counselling and issues of difference and diversity.
▪ The ability to build and sustain a therapeutic relationship with clients in a supervised
placement and to complete a minimum of 100 clinical hours.
▪ The ability to make effective use of supervision.
▪ The ability to devise a research proposal in preparation for possible progression to a Level 6
qualification.
▪ An enhanced capacity for ethically sound counselling skills practice and for reflecting on and
learning from the learner’s own experience of practice.

The demand for counselling and psychotherapy in the UK continues to grow. The importance of a thorough and recognised training is increasingly accepted. Becoming a counsellor can provide a highly satisfying and fulfilling career. The number of opportunities for paid employment in the counselling field is increasing. Counsellor vacancies may be in a variety of settings, such as schools; further and higher education; organisations for people with disabilities, in the workplace; youth work; for alcohol, drugs and AIDS agencies; General Practice and other general counselling services. A counselling qualification can be a most valuable addition to an existing CV, particularly in the
Health and Social care field. Many telephone helplines are staffed by people trained in listening and counselling skills.

To achieve this qualification learners must complete all the essential components (see Qualification Specification).