Training & CPD
Certificate in Online & Telephone Counselling
The Competence and Confidence to Work Safely and Effectively in Remote Practice
Who is this course for?
- Qualified counsellors & psychotherapists
- Counselling students who are client-facing
This course includes
- 24/7 access
- Ethical practice
- Access on mobile and desktop
- No hidden charges
Providing quality training for agencies, learning institutions and organisations
Here is what you can expect:
- Gain the confidence and competence to transfer your face-to-face counselling skills to online and telephone working.
- Develop an ethical and professional presence online, grounded in recognised competencies and best practice.
- Practise using both synchronous and asynchronous communication tools with a course buddy, building hands-on experience in a safe learning environment.
- Reflect on your personal attitudes and professional identity as an online practitioner, growing both personally and professionally.
- Enjoy a flexible, engaging learning experience designed to support your growth—wherever you are in your journey.
- On completion, receive a certificate for 80 CPD hours, with recognition from the NCPS as Quality Checked training.
Hear from those we already support
This course was a game-changer for me! The structure, clarity, and resources provided were invaluable. It has boosted my confidence in telephone counselling, making me feel much more at ease and natural in my practice.
This course filled in key knowledge gaps and complemented my degree training perfectly. The academic papers and structured discussions reinforced my learning, giving me confidence to move into private practice.
Before this course, I couldn't imagine working online, but it has completely changed my perspective. I’ve gained confidence in both online and telephone counselling, making it an essential part of my future practice.
As a former Learning Technologist, I really appreciated the thought put into the course structure. The combination of theory, discussion, and practical application made it engaging and easy to absorb.
Being dyslexic, I was reassured knowing both Rory and Ken understand these challenges. The course confirmed that text-based counselling wasn’t for me but gave me confidence in working effectively through other mediums.
I already worked online as a coach, but this course expanded my knowledge far beyond what I expected. The depth of content, additional resources, and practical application have been invaluable.
With years of experience in telephone counselling, I initially saw this as a refresher, but I gained so much more. It reinforced key aspects of online practice, including ethical considerations and paperwork.
I was resistant to online counselling, but this course completely shifted my mindset. The structure, reflection prompts, and up-to-date guidance provided a thorough foundation for my online practice.
Requirements to enrol
- Hold a formal, recognised qualification in counselling or psychotherapy at diploma level or above, or be working towards one and currently working with clients.
- Be a member of a professional body, working within an ethical framework and attending regular supervision and CPD as required.
- Have access to a computer with a reliable internet connection for the full duration of the course.
- Be ready to commit to approximately 80 hours of flexible online learning, including buddy work and practical exercises.
- Be open to developing your skills, confidence, and self-reflection in online and telephone counselling.
Course description
More and more clients are choosing remote therapy—and counsellors need the right skills to meet them there, ethically and effectively.
This fully online course offers over 80 hours of guided learning, mapped to the 2021 BACP and ACTO competencies for online and telephone counselling. You’ll work through six structured modules at your own pace, with access to video lectures, resources, practical exercises, and buddy work to help you apply your learning in real-world scenarios—no deadlines, no pressure.
Your tutors are Ken Kelly and Rory Lees-Oakes, experienced counsellors, supervisors, authors, and co-directors of Counselling Tutor. Ken holds a postgraduate certificate in online counselling and wrote Basic Counselling Skills: A Student Guide. Rory, a former lecturer and Pearson Fellow, authored Counselling Theory in Practice and received the Silver Plato award for outstanding use of technology in education.
Together, they bring decades of experience and a practical, supportive approach to help you grow in confidence and competence when working online or by phone. Upon completion, you’ll receive a certificate for 80 CPD hours and a digital badge you can use in your practice.
Course Modules & Topics
6 Modules, 36 Topics
- Online mindset
- Benefits and challenges
- Suitability/assessment
- Synchronous vs asynchronous communication
- Online contracting
- Your relationship with technology
- Clients’ relationship with technology
- Using the right technology
- Ethical and legal requirements
- Best fit for the client?
- Working within your jurisdiction
- Insurance considerations
- Online confidentiality
- Data protection
- Your disclaimer if things go wrong
- Referrals
- Black hole effect
- Emergency contact – Samaritans, etc
- Risk management
- Therapist boundaries
- Effectiveness of online therapy (what the research says)
- Phone counselling: Therapist considerations
- Clients seeing themselves: What we need to know
- Text counselling: therapist considerations
- Working without visual cues
- Online presence
- Supervision
- Self-care
- Endings
- Evaluation forms
Into practice and beyond
100% no risk guarantee
At Counselling Tutor we hold ethics as a core value.
We truly believe that you will get immense value from this course. If you enrol and feel dissatisfied, then you have 30 days to let us know and we will refund 100% of your money.
FAQs
Yes! Our courses are designed for international learners and are based on universal counselling principles. While some courses are mapped to UK professional standards (e.g. BACP, NCPS), the core skills, theories, and practices apply globally. Many of our students come from Europe, Australia, the US, Canada, and beyond.
Will this course help me meet my country’s CPD requirements?
In most cases, yes. Our CPD certificates demonstrate ongoing professional development and are accepted by many international regulatory bodies. However, we recommend checking with your local professional organisation for specific CPD accreditation requirements.
Can I access the course from my country?
Yes! Our courses are 100% online and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. You can study at your own pace, anytime, on any device.
Will course materials be relevant to my practice outside the UK?
Absolutely. Counselling theories, skills, and ethical considerations apply across different regions. If your country has specific laws or ethical frameworks, you may need to adapt certain aspects—but the core training remains highly relevant.
No worries! We offer a 100% risk-free, 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re unsatisfied, let us know within 30 days of enrolment, and we’ll refund your payment, no questions asked.
To request a refund, contact our support team at support@counsellingtutor.com. We’ll process your refund quickly, with no hassle and no complicated forms.
Got another question? If you've got another question about our course you can send us an email.