Why was Westmeria College formed?
After successfully building up the counselling service since 2003 and taking students for placements in the service, we decided to try and make a difference in another area. So, we began our training school in 2014. This enabled us to offer an excellent training facility and any profits made from this go straight into continuing our counselling work, for which we charge no set fee.
With the expertise of the counselling team here, we pulled on our resources and experiences to inform a new generation of counsellors. Again, another unique string to the Westmeria bow, setting up a college within a counselling agency. We believe that it is a special way of learning; within the environment in which counsellors will eventually work.
Having all trained at various colleges/universities we were able to expand and develop to offer a fully rounded course. Working with the CPCAB was important to us as they are a counselling awarding body, rather than just an academic awarding body, which was a natural fit. CPCAB are hugely supportive and knowledgeable and have really helped us to develop our courses.
What does the college offer?
So, we are now offering all levels up to the Diploma – which is being written now to send for approval with CPCAB so that we can offer this in January 2017. We have had 3 cohorts on the Introduction to counselling skills, one of which is running now. Our Level 2 skills finished and we had a 100% pass rate. Our Level 3 Studies is running now. We are also introducing the Understanding Substance Misuse course in September.
Separate to the CPCAB courses is our Certificate in Counselling Supervision which is a bespoke course for qualified counsellors looking to further develop their practice. We have successfully completed one course and the next is running in September. We keep our groups small to maximise learning. All of our courses are taught by counsellors attached to Westmeria Counselling Services within the agency in a conference facility.
I’m incredibly proud of what our courses have achieved so far, and excited for the future of our college and it’s students.
Sue Doughty
CEO and Course Director
