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Accessibility statement

An image to illustrate Online counselling: getting started short course

Whether you're a counsellor, psychotherapist or trainee, this 25-hour short course will help you set up and deliver safe, effective online counselling via video and phone. You'll explore how to manage technology, data protection and contracting challenges, as well as ethical practice, client suitability, boundary management, and inclusive, safe working. Developed by the OU in partnership with CPCAB, the course aligns with BACP’s Online and Phone Therapy competency framework and the competencies outlined in the SCoPEd framework. You'll gain practical skills and knowledge and receive a CPD certificate upon successful completion of the course.

This course has been developed by the OU with the BACP and in partnership with the CPCAB

The course focuses on how to set up/start video and phone counselling, as well as the practical considerations for working remotely, assessment of client suitability for online working, risk assessment and the challenges to working ethically in online counselling.

This CPD course is split into six units:

Unit 1: Introduction sets up the course and invites you to consider your current confidence in meeting competencies for video and phone counselling.

Unit 2: Setting up online counselling focuses on both technological options and aspects as well as legal context, in particular related to data security, that need consideration when setting up remote counselling.

Unit 3: Working ethically in video and phone counselling introduces you to the unique ethical considerations and challenges practitioners need to be aware of and navigate when working via video-link and phone.

In Unit 4: Working safely in video and phone counselling you'll learn about assessment in video/phone counselling, with a specific focus on risk assessment and management. You'll also consider the role of practitioner self-care and supervision for sustaining good and safe practice with vulnerable clients.

Unit 5: Equality, diversity and inclusion in video and phone counselling focuses on the importance of counsellors and psychotherapists working to foster equality, diversity and inclusion in remote practice. You'll also consider the responsibility of practitioners to think about the accessibility of their services and the advantages or disadvantages of remote counselling to certain groups of clients.

In Unit 6: Conclusion you'll reflect on what you have learned on this course, and what is seen currently as training needs and requirements for delivering remote counselling.

By studying this CPD course, you will gain:

The course was developed by the OU in partnership with the Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CPCAB) who recognise this course as one of the pre-requisites for the CPCAB Level 5 Award in Online and Phone Counselling Practice. The content aligns to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Online and Phone Therapy Competence Framework and with the SCoPEd (The Scope of Practice and Education Framework) competencies for phone and video-based counselling. Course completion will boost knowledge and confidence to support counsellors and psychotherapists in offering technology-based counselling safely and effectively.

This short course offers online learning and contains self-study materials to be studied at your own pace. There is no learner support from learning advisers available on this course.

There is no formal assessment on this course. The course includes multiple ‘pauses for reflection’ designed to promote the reflexivity which is a professional skill for counsellors. The course also includes an end-of-course multiple-choice quiz.

In total, this course will require around 25 hours to complete. Learners are advised to complete within two months.

You can begin at any time during the life of the course and study at your own pace. The course will be open to you for a time period of between 6 and 18 months, depending on your course registration date, and you will be advised of the specific time limitations upon enrolment.

All learning materials are delivered entirely online. You’ll have access to a course website, which includes:

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations, which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

There are no formal entry requirements. This course is designed for qualified counsellors and psychotherapists as well as counselling and psychotherapy trainees.

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact us.

The course is delivered online and makes use of a variety of online resources. If you use specialist hardware or software to assist you in using a computer or the internet you are advised to contact us about support which can be given to meet your needs.

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying DGXS002 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

Start	England fee
At anytime before 31/07/2026	£200
At anytime before 31/07/2027	Not yet available

We accept American Express, Mastercard, Visa and Visa Electron.

If this course is geared towards your job or developing your career, you could ask your employer to sponsor you by paying some or all of the fees. Your sponsor just needs to complete a simple form to confirm how much they will be paying and we will invoice them.

The fee information provided here is valid for short courses starting in the 2025/26 academic year. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our

Fee Rules

You can start this course anytime.