So, you’re considering training as a counsellor in Devon? Let us give you the lowdown on what counselling looks like in this beautiful area of the country!

If Devon sounds like the place to start your career in counselling, the good news is that there are a few different options available to help you get going.

There are lots of different counselling course providers throughout the Devon region, and the right option for you will depend on where exactly you want to be based, your interests and your goals and aspirations in the counselling field. 

Let’s go through the main options.

Colleges

There are several different colleges that offer counselling courses in Devon. Because these colleges offer a wide variety of different courses (not just counselling!), they tend to have large campuses and student bodies. As a result, students have the opportunity to engage in lots of student events and extracurricular activities. So, if a rich and immersive student life is an important factor in your decision, these are options to consider!

The South Devon College offers Level 2 and 3 courses in counselling, as well as a Foundation Degree in Psychology and Counselling Skills through its higher education division, the University Centre South Devon, at its Paignton campus. The Exeter-based Iron Mill College offers a certificate and diploma in counselling, as well as a Foundation Degree and BA Hons in Integrative Counselling. Petroc College, based in Barnstaple, offers Level 2 and 3 courses in counselling. And finally, Exeter College (which, as the name suggests, is based in Exeter) provides Level 2 to 4 courses in counselling.

Specialist providers

There are also a variety of specialist counselling training providers dotted across Devon. These specialist providers have a narrower focus and typically only provide courses relating to counselling and therapy. 

Because of this, the classes tend to be smaller than those at a college, and you can expect to have more interaction with faculty members, including your tutors. This generally leads to a more supportive learning environment, with more one-to-one interaction. 

For many tutors, teaching will not be their full-time job, and they will continue to work with clients in a counselling practice. This means they often have good connections with the local counselling community, which could prove useful when you start looking for placements and job opportunities. 

You can find the following specialist providers of counselling courses in Devon: 

Devon Counselling College – Based in Newton Abbot, this provider offers Level 2 to 4 counselling courses and several post-diploma qualifications. 

Heartwood Counselling and Psychotherapy College – Provides Level 2 to 4 courses, as well as a number of advanced diplomas, in the Totnes area. 

Key Counselling Training – Offers Level 2 to 4 courses and a number of post-diploma courses at its Torquay hub. 

Step by Step Counselling College – Based in Newton Abbot, this provider offers Level 2 to 4 courses.  

Astranti Connect – We used to be the Devon and Cornwall Counselling Hub before we became a nationwide provider. We provide Level 2 to 6 counselling courses at our Ivybridge hub.

You may have noticed that some of these counselling training providers in Devon offer online courses as well as in-classroom courses. So which one should you choose? 

Well, unfortunately, there’s no simple answer to this question. Like choosing the best qualification and training provider, it really depends on your personal circumstances and what your counselling aspirations are! 

But let us take you through some of the key considerations to help you make your decision.

All-in-all, there’s no right answer when it comes to a decision between classroom-only, blended or online-only counselling courses. It comes down to your own personal circumstances and preferences, and you should choose the best format for your goals and needs.

We have more information on this subject in our definitive guide to online counselling courses.