Course Delivery: Online (15 days in-person)
Duration: 94 weeks, including 100 hours of online supervised counselling practice
Start: October 2024 & March 2025
Wages: Typically $80-$100/client hour in Private Practice
Articulation - Direct Pathway (Post-Graduation): Graduates are eligible to apply for BCIT’s Business Management Advanced Diploma. Upon completion, they can continue to BCIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA).
Student Diversity:
Stenberg supports diversity in our student population, and we hold one seat per program for a self-identified Indigenous applicant who meets admission requirements. If the seat remains unfilled at 12 weeks prior to the program start, the seat will be released and offered to other qualified applicants.

About the Career

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. This program will enhance your existing skill set and expertise in careers that work with people, such as: human resources; career counselling; customer service; and health care professionals.

Our graduates meet the requirements for registration with the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA) and the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists of Canada (ACCT). As candidate members of either association, our graduates can work as counsellors under supervision, while pursuing a Registered Professional Counsellor or Registered Therapeutic Counsellor designation.

With either designation, our graduates may find employment in:

  • Employee assistance programs (EAP) 
  • Private practice
  • Health and wellness clinics
  • Treatment centres
  • Government
  • Not-for-profits organizations

Many of our grads begin their careers working in the human service sector supporting individuals with mental health, addictions, and housing challenges, as well as individuals with developmental disabilities. Our grads also provide employment assistance, assistance to new immigrants, and support to women and children. Some of our grads work in private practice shortly after graduation and for most, private practice is their long-term goal.

Counselling Therapist Program | Stenberg College

About the Counselling Therapist Program

All theory courses will be delivered online, allowing you to study from the comfort of your home. Clinical skills practice courses are delivered face-to-face at our Surrey campus three times during the program, and each course is one week in length (3 weeks total face-to-face).   

Students will be required to attend in-person classes for hands-on training during the first three terms of the program:

  • Term 1: 5 days on campus
  • Term 2: 5 days on campus
  • Term 3: 5 days on campus

There is a practicum one day a week throughout terms 3 and 4 of the program. Students will complete 100 direct client hours supported by 20 hours of clinical supervision. Student interns will start their practicum internally at the Stenberg Wellness Centre. Students will have a Clinical Supervisor with additional support from the Practice Education Team throughout their learning journey. 

Our Counselling Therapist program is built on a foundation of reflective, 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.

Admission Requirements

Pre-requisites:

  • Mature student status (19+ years of age)
  • Passing Verbal Test of English if EAL
  • Completion of a Criminal Record Consent Form under the Criminal Record Review Act
  • Successful completion of a shortwritten essay (minimum 70%)
  • Acceptable Medical Examination Form completed by a Regulated Medical Professional such as a Physician, Regulated Counselling Therapist*, Psychologist, Psychiatrist or a Nurse Practitioner)
    * Counsellors with a designation (except for students or candidates) with a regulator, such as ACCT, BCACC, CCPA, CCC, and CPCA

English Language Proficiency Admission Requirements

    • Evidence of passing any high school Grade 12 level English course or higher or the following in lieu:
      • English challenge exam or Communications challenge exam
      • English Language Equivalency Test (ELET-Reading Comprehension, Spelling, Verbal Test of English)
      • IELTS: General or Academic with Overall band score of 6.5 with no less than 6.5 in Listening and Speaking no less than 7.0
      • CLBPT: Minimum score of 8 in Speaking and 7 in Listening, Reading, and Writing
    • Passing Verbal Test of English if EAL

Program Courses

Post-Graduation Pathways

Articulation to British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)

Our Counselling Therapist diploma program has an articulation agreement with BCIT. Graduates of our Counselling Therapist program are eligible to apply for  BCIT’s Advanced Diploma in Business Management.

Upon completion of Stenberg’s Counselling Therapist program, with an additional 1 year full time at BCIT, you can acquire an Advanced Diploma in one of Canada’s largest business schools, obtaining skills and experiences that will prepare you to successfully run a private practice.

Articulation - Direct Pathway (Post-Graduation)

Stenberg College Counselling Therapist Diploma

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94 Weeks Full-Time

BCIT Advanced Diploma In Business Management

---------
1 Year Full-Time

BCIT Bachelor of Business Administration Degree

---------
1 Year Full-Time

After completing BCIT’s Business Management Advanced Diploma, students have the option to enroll in BCIT’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), earning a degree that emphasizes critical and strategic thinking.

Learn more about the Stenberg-BCIT Pathway.

Credit Transfer to Athabasca University

Stenberg College Counselling Therapist Diploma

---------
94 Weeks Full-Time

Athabasca University Bachelor of Professional Arts Degree

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60 Credits

Athabasca University Master of Counselling (Optional)*

---------
36 Credits

Graduates of our Counselling Therapist Diploma program are eligible for advanced entry into Athabasca University’s Bachelor of Professional Arts (BPA), majoring in Governance, Law and Management, Criminal Justice, Communications or Human Services.*

Stenberg College’s Counselling Therapist Diploma gives graduates 60 Athabasca University transfer credits, leaving only 60 credits of course work at Athabasca to earn your BPA. You can complete your entire Athabasca Bachelor’s online in 2 years full-time. Graduates can continue on to complete Athabasca’s Master of Counselling program in 3.5 years of full-time study.*

*Additional qualifications beyond a degree must be met for admission into Athabasca’s Master of Counselling program.

*This articulation is based on a review of Stenberg College’s 2021 Counselling Therapist curriculum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Faculty

Accreditation and Recognition

Stenberg College is designated by the BC government’s Ministry of Advanced Education through the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB). This program is approved by PTIB. PTIB is responsible for setting standards of quality and ensuring consumer protection. Stenberg College has also received the BC government’s Education Quality Assurance (EQA) designation, which is BC’s brand or “seal” of quality post-secondary education for public and private institutions.

All of our programs are developed in collaboration with industry to meet their needs which is why our graduates are so successful.

Over 98% of our graduates are employed in their field of study within 6 months of graduation (as per March 2018).

Professional Designations

This program prepares you to meet the requirements to become registered with the Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists in Canada (ACCT) and the Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA).

Canadian Professional Counsellors Association (CPCA)

The CPCA is a nationally recognized, independent, self-regulated, non-profit association whose members are held to the highest ethical standards of the profession. Their members meet rigorous standards for education and training and clinical experience before they can use the RPC (Registered Professional Counsellor) designation. This program includes a course designed to prepare you for the CPCA Qualifying Examination, a requirement for membership with this association.

Below is a summary of the designations available through the CPCA:

 

Student Member

  • Enrolled in a college/university program which meets minimum education requirements OR enrolled in a course(s) which, in addition to previously acquired education, meet the minimum education requirements

RPC-C Registered Professional Counsellor Candidate

  • Practicing counsellors who have not yet obtained the minimum clinical supervision required and are considered interns in the mental health field

RPC – Registered Professional Counsellor

  • Minimum 600 hours in counselling and/or psychotherapy under clinical supervision by mental health professional(s)
  • Include minimum 150 supervision hours, 250 direct clinical contact hours (DCC), and 200 practice hours

MPCC – Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling

  • Practiced in the counselling field for a minimum of 5 of the last 8 years
  • Completed minimum 1250 clinical practice hours including 750 DCC hours and 250 clinical supervision hours

Qualified Clinical Supervisor (QCS)

  • CPCA member and/or mental health professional who provides clinical supervision to other mental health professionals

Association of Cooperative Counselling Therapists in Canada (ACCT)

ACCT is a self-regulated competency-based professional association, registering counsellors with the designation of Registered Therapeutic Counsellor/Accredited Counsellor (RTC/AC), Master Therapeutic Counsellor (MTC) and Registered Counselling Supervisor (RCS). Below is a summary of each ACCT designation:

Student Applicant

  • Presently enrolled in registered counselling certificate, diploma, or degree program
  • Must not practice counselling except when supervised and part of training

RTC: Registered Therapeutic Counsellor

  • Certificate, diploma, Bachelor’s, Postgraduate, Master’s degree or PhD in Counselling or related, or equivalent experience/training as determined by ACCT Team
  • Minimum 150 hours clinical practice with supervision, practicum
  • Must provide proof of Ethics Course

MTC: Master Therapeutic Counsellor

  • Certificate, diploma, Bachelors, postgraduate certificate, Master’s degree or PhD in counselling or related, or equivalent experience/training as determined by ACCT Team
  • Minimum 1000 hours direct client contact, 500 in Canada, 50 under supervision

RCS: Registered Counselling Supervisor 

  • Be an MTC, or have equivalent professional designation from another association
  • At least 5 years, over 1000 hours experience, 120 hours supervised
  • Proof of supervision training course completion

Supervision

Curriculum in the Stenberg program corresponds to the competencies set by the Federation of Associations for Counselling Therapists in British Columbia (FACTBC), of which ACCT and the CPCA are task group members for creating the counsellor competency profile for counselling therapists. In addition to your diploma, you will also receive industry-relevant certifications: Violence Prevention, Non-Violent Communication, and DSM-V.

Qualified graduates have the option to write the CPCA RPC-C (Registered Professional Counsellor Candidate) examination. To become a fully accredited Registered Professional Counsellor, graduates from Counselling Therapist programs must complete 150 hours of Supervised Practice.

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Student/Alumni Employment Board

As a student or counselling candidate, a position in the human services sector can provide valuable experience and networking opportunities as you build your career. This is by no means a definitive list of employment opportunities that are available. Job boards like indeed.ca, can be a valuable tool in your employment search.

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