Caring and compassionate by nature, counsellors are drawn to the profession by a desire to help. Whether supporting someone through a challenging time, motivating them to achieve their goals, or guiding them to personal insights, a counsellor helps others to change their own lives. Whether you want to pursue the rewarding career of counselling or to use counselling skills in your personal life or in another helping profession, our Counselling Therapist Diploma program will give you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to apply your natural compassion as a skilled helper.
Counsellors support diverse individuals, couples, families, and groups of people through personal and interpersonal challenges and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Based on the extensive competency profile of the Federation of Associations for Counselling Therapists of British Columbia (FACTBC), our Counselling Therapist Diploma qualifies you for membership with multiple counselling associations. Competency-based counsellors are an important part of British Columbia’s mosaic of mental health professionals.
Our Counselling Therapist program is built on a foundation of evidence-based practice, reflective practice, and ethical practice. You will develop an understanding of the biological, psychological, and social underpinnings of everyday human problems and mental health issues, as well as frameworks to change them.
Under the guidance of expert counsellor instructors and practicum supervisors, you will apply and deepen your learning throughout the program with in-class role plays and weekly integrated practicum hours with real clients
In the online delivery format, all theory will be delivered online, so you can study from the comfort of your home. Counselling practicum placements will be provided by Moving Forward Family Services (MFFS) throughout B.C., allowing you to complete practicum in your local community.
Students will be required to attend in-person classes for hands-on training during the first three terms of the program:
You will have access to free clinical supervision and use of our counselling clinic for two years following your graduation while you work toward registration with ACCT and/or CPCA. This FREE Supervision Service will save you approximately $5,000 in supervision fees after you graduate from our Counselling Therapist Diploma program.
This program is for you, if you:
Applicants for the Counselling Therapist Diploma program must complete the following:
Prior to Program Admission, Program Advisors will outline practice education requirements for the program which include the following:
*(Entrance requirements can be met with evidence of alternate assessments such as Challenge Exams, or acceptable standardized English equivalency tests as per the Stenberg College Language Proficiency chart. Evidence of Post-Secondary studies at an equivalent level where English was the first language is acceptable.)
You could be eligible for Employment Insurance funding for the Counselling Therapist Diploma program, government student loans and non-repayable grants. Stenberg’s Financial Aid Officer would be happy to provide further assistance.