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Venue: Our Lady's and St Swithin RC Primary School, Parkstile Lane, Croxteth, Liverpool, L11 0BQ
2026 Enrolment open
Limited training places
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Cohorts are intentionally kept small to protect the quality of reflective discussion, experiential learning, and individual support.
Counselling courses near Hightown, Sefton
If you are living in Hightown and considering professional training in counselling or mental health practice, UK Therapy Guild offers a clearly structured and professionally supported pathway into the field. Teaching takes place in person at the Our Lady’s & St Swithin’s RC Primary School, Parkstile Lane, Croxteth, Liverpool, L11 0BQ, accessible from Hightown and the wider Sefton area.
The programme is delivered mainly face to face during term time, with a smaller online study element to support flexibility. This blended structure reflects recognised counselling training standards, where relational and experiential learning are central. Students can progress to Level 5 within two years. No prior qualifications are required to begin, although Level 3 knowledge is beneficial, and optional weekend support sessions are available if needed.
Students also gain access to the Guild’s online learning platform and resource library, supporting study and development between teaching sessions.
To explore course structure, progression pathways, and entry information, read more about the Level 5 Equivalent Diploma in Integrative Counselling below.
Getting to Our Lady's and St Swithin's, Croxteth from Hightown
Our classes are delivered at Our Lady's and St Swithin RC Primary School, Parkstile Lane, Croxteth, Liverpool, L11 0BQ. Use the links below for live routes, including current train lines, stops, bus numbers, and service times.
Walking or cycling
Travel times vary with traffic and service changes, the links above always show the latest available routes.
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Details of the UK Therapy Guild Level 5 Equivalent Diploma in Integrative Counselling: course facts, a foreword from the founder, and expandable sections covering the curriculum, accreditation, assessment and placement, entry requirements, practical details and the teaching team.
Liverpool · Starts 8 September 2027
Level 5 Equivalent Diploma in Integrative Counselling
Two years, part-time. Train to become a qualified integrative counsellor.
From September 2027, Student BACP membership in Year 2 is included within your tuition fee.
Part-time study
2 years
Guided learning hours
400
Units of study
19
Placement hours
100
Accredited by
NCIP
Why this course exists
My own first experiences of counselling were disappointing. I changed therapist often, which deepened old wounds, and later sat in sessions where I did not feel heard.
That is why I trained, and why I built this. Hurt people often go on to hurt others. Our goal is to break that cycle.
This is the course I wish I had found when I needed it most.
Nichola Doyle, Director, UK Therapy Guild
The detail
Open any section below. Everything else is in the prospectus.
Nineteen units across two years, covering the major therapeutic approaches so you build your own way of working rather than following one model.
- The Self Structure
- Determinism or Free Will
- Professional and Organisational Issues
- Counselling Skills and Theory
- The Digital Toolkit
- Person-Centred Approach
- Psychodynamic Approaches
- Gestalt Therapy
- Existential and Humanistic Approaches
- Transactional Analysis
- Grief Counselling
- Narrative Therapy
- Family Counselling
- Couples' Counselling
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Mental Health and the Mind-Body Link
- Suicide Awareness and Safeguarding
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Preparing for Placement
The diploma is accredited by the NCIP. On completion you can apply for registered NCIP membership.
Our curriculum has been assessed against the BACP SCoPEd Framework and confirmed to meet its requirements. The course itself is not BACP accredited.
From September 2027, Student BACP membership in Year 2 is included within your tuition fee. After qualifying you may choose to sit the BACP Certificate of Proficiency.
Written assignments, a recorded skills session with reflection, case studies, and a verified placement portfolio.
You complete 100 supervised client hours, normally starting after the first year, with a minimum of 12 hours of clinical supervision.
You source your own placement, with our support.
We are also building our own counselling service, so there will be somewhere to practise once you qualify.
No formal qualifications needed. Prior counselling training at Level 2 or 3 is not required.
Apply online, then if shortlisted you are invited to a personal interview with Nichola. We consider your background, life experience and where you want to go.
No payment is taken when you apply.
Starts 8 September 2027. Two years, part-time, term-time. Course schedule confirmed at the enquiry stage.
Our Lady's and St Swithin RC Primary School, Parkstile Lane, Croxteth, Liverpool, L11 0BQ. View on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Minimum attendance 80%. You arrange your own student counsellor insurance before placement.
Nichola Doyle, Founder and Course Director. MA Education and Teaching, BA Hons Education with QTS, L6 Counselling Supervision. Senior Accredited ACCPH, Member NCIP.
Nick Buchanan, Course Supervisor. L5 Diploma in Integrative Counselling, Certificate in Counselling Supervision, EMDR Diploma, NLP Master Practitioner.
Erin Rawlings Doyle, teacher and student liaison. BA Hons Sociology, L5 Diploma in Integrative Counselling.
Small cohorts, typically under 30. Your tutors know your name.
Interested in hypnotherapy?
We are an academy of counselling and hypnotherapy. Once you are training with us, you can add a hypnotherapy qualification at a student rate.
See the hypnotherapy add-on