Ready to take your counselling practice further?

Diploma in CBT Skills and Therapy: Level 5

Develop your understanding of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, strengthen your therapeutic skills and bring a new dimension to your professional counselling practice.

If you are a qualified counsellor looking to expand your knowledge and develop your therapeutic approach, our Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills and Theory could be your next step.

This advanced qualification offers an opportunity to explore CBT theory, develop practical therapeutic skills and consider how CBT approaches can be integrated into your existing counselling practice.

Whether you work within an organisation or in private practice, developing your understanding of CBT can help broaden your professional knowledge and the approaches you bring to your work with clients.

Deepen your knowledge. Develop your practice.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy explores the connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviours, helping clients recognise patterns that may contribute to emotional and psychological difficulties.

Through this course, you will develop a deeper understanding of CBT principals and learn how to apply relevant therapeutic therapeutic skills and techniques within a professional counselling relationship.

You will be encouraged to reflect on your existing practice, develop your confidence and explore how CBT can complement your work as a counsellor.

Is this course right for me?

Our Level 5 Diploma may be suitable for you if you:

• are already a qualified counsellor:
• have completed a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling or an equivalent qualification:
• want to develop your knowledge of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy:
• work in private practice or an organisational counselling setting: or
• would like to continue developing your professional knowledge and therapeutic skills.

Entry requirement:

Minimum age: 19 years

Applicants must hold a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling or an equivalent qualification

What will I gain from the course?

Throughout the course, you will have opportunities to:

• develop your understanding of CBT theory and its application to counselling
• explore the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviours:
• learn and practise CBT-informed therapeutic skills:
• develop your ability to work ethically and safely using CBT approach:
• strengthen your self-awareness and reflective practice: and
• build greater confidence in integrating CBT principals into your professional counselling work.

The course combines theoretical learning with practical exercises, helping you connect what you learn with your experience as a practising counsellor.

Learn in a supportive small group

Developing your therapeutic practice involves discussion, reflection and opportunities to put new learning into practice.

Our small group learning environment provides opportunities to explore CBT concepts, share professional perspectives and develop your skills through tutor-led teaching and practical exercises.

You will be encouraged to reflect on your professional development throughout the course.

Course at a Glance

Qualification: CPCAB Level 5 Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapeutic Skills and Theory (CBT-L5)

Start date: Tuesday 12 January 2027
End date: Tuesday 30 November 2027
Course time: 6.00pm to 9.30pm
Guided Learning Hours: 120 hours
Total Qualification Time: 388 hours
Course fee: £2,495
Payment: Instalment plan available
Minimum age: 19 years
Entry requirement: Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling or equivalent

Practical requirement: 30 fully supervised client hours in an agency setting

Personal therapy: Not required as part of this course

Learn live online, wherever you are

Our Level 5 CBT course is delivered live and interactively via Zoom, giving you the flexibility to continue your professional development from wherever you are.

You’ll join your tutor and fellow students in real time for teaching, discussion, practical exercises and skills development, all within a supportive small group learning environment.

Bringing CBT into your counselling practice

An important part of Level 5 is developing your ability to connect theory with professional practice.

Through teaching, practical exercises and supervised work, you will have opportunities to develop your understanding of how CBT approaches can be used with in a therapeutic relationship.

The course includes a requirement for 30 fully supervised client hours in an agency setting.

The practical element provides an opportunity to develop your CBT skills while continuing to reflect on your professional responsibilities and therapeutic effectiveness.

Where could Level 5 take me?

For qualified counsellors, Level 5 provides an opportunity to broaden professional knowledge and develop additional therapeutic skills.

A stronger grounding in CBT theory and practice may be valuable for counsellors working in organisational settings, multidisciplinary environments or private practice.

Successful completion may also support progression towards further professional development and training.

CPCAB identifies the Level 6 Certificate in Therapeutic Counselling Supervision as a possible progression route, subject to additional supervised practice experience and entry requirements.

Important information

This is an advanced qualification intended for individuals who already hold a recognised professional counselling qualification at Level 4 or equivalent.

The course develops CBT skills and theory within professional counselling practice. It should not be presented as a standalone route to becoming a qualified counsellor or as automatically conferring specialist CBT practitioner accredition.

Students are assessed through course participation, written and reflective work, practical skills development and CPCAB assessment requirements.

Personal therapy is not a requirement of this course.

The qualification is awarded by the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB)

Ready to develop your practice further?

Your professional development doesn’t stop when you qualify as a counsellor.

Continuing to learn, explore new approaches and deepen your therapeutic understanding can be an important part of your professional journey.

If you are interested in developing your CBT knowledge and skills, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Ready to take the next step?

Call Synergie on 01895 254 660 and we will be happy to discuss the course and guide you through the enrolment process

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