No pre-reading is necessary for the Introductory Certificate in Counselling. However, if you wish to obtain a book for background reading, the following resources are very helpful;

Mearns, D., Thorne, B. and McLeod, J. (2013) Person-centred counselling in action. 4Th ed. / edn. London: SAGE. Edition 3 is also useful for this course.

McLeod, J. (2019) An introduction to counselling and psychotherapy : theory, research and practice. 6th edn. London: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press. Earlier editions are equally as useful.

Culley, S. and Bond, T. (2016) Integrative counselling skills in action. 5th edn. London: SAGE.

You may also like to visit the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) online at British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (bacp.co.uk) where you will find a wealth of resources and information on counselling as a career.

Birmingham Newman University offers an award winning library which has a vast array of books, as well as virtual resources (e-books and research journals). These will be available to you once you have completed enrolment.

A full reading list will be available at the start of the course and your tutor will suggest appropriate reading each week.

Your first teaching session will include an induction to the course, the University, and an opportunity to meet your fellow students and begin getting to know each other.

Your course tutor will be in contact with you shortly via Moodle with further details about the first session. This will include information on how to find the room, what you need to bring, and an outline of the evening.

During this first session, your tutor will guide you through everything you need to know about the course, including assignments, navigating the campus, and using University IT systems and Moodle. You’ll also be introduced to the range of support available at Birmingham Newman University.

There will be plenty of opportunity for you to ask any questions and to meet and get to know others in your group.

IMPORTANT: Please bring your photo ID with you on this date to complete enrolment.

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Each lecture will begin with a whole-group teaching component. The first half of the evening will focus on introducing key counselling theories and concepts, with the course grounded in person-centred theory. In the second half, you’ll break into smaller groups to engage in skills practice, giving you the opportunity to apply what you have learned in a supportive environment.

Over the coming weeks, you’ll be introduced to the foundations of counselling, including core values, ethical awareness, and essential communication skills such as active listening, empathy, and reflection. Just as importantly, you’ll be encouraged to reflect on your own experiences, thoughts, and responses—an integral part of becoming an effective and ethical practitioner. This reflective work will also be a key component of your assessed work, and your course lecturer will discuss this with you in more detail once teaching begins.

You will also have a tutorial with your course tutor during the semester to review your progress and, if you wish, discuss any future plans, including progression onto our other professional programmes.

Your course tutor will be confirmed shortly.