OU launches new online CPD course: Video and phone counselling 2.0: advancing your knowledge

Developed in partnership with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), this new course aims to support counsellors and psychotherapists in delivering therapy remotely via video and phone.

It builds on the success of The Open University’s online CPD course “How to do counselling online: a coronavirus primer”, which was developed at the beginning of the pandemic and has enrolled over 24,000 participants to date.

“Online therapy is here to stay,” says Dr Andreas Vossler of The Open University’s School of Psychology and Counselling and one of the course authors. “There is therefore a need for practitioners to upskill so that they are well equipped to provide online counselling effectively and safely as part of their regular practice.”

Video and phone counselling 2.0: advancing your knowledge is a course designed to support the professional development of counsellors and psychotherapists who already have some experience working remotely or have completed a core online and phone therapy training course.

It provides research-based knowledge and support to improve the effectiveness and safety of counselling and psychotherapy remotely. The course, which runs for 20 learning hours, includes many interactive activities. It features high-quality short films illustrating practice, audio from experts and a quiz to check the learner's understanding.

Completing the course will boost knowledge and confidence and help counsellors and psychotherapists to provide video and phone-based counselling in their regular practice.

Professor Naomi Moller of The Open University School of Psychology and Counselling and one of the course authors says, “This course is founded on research, the existing research in this area and also the biggest qualitative study to date examining counsellor’s experiences of offering video and phone-based therapy. This means that the course offers research-informed but also real world, practical and useful input to counsellors who are working remotely.”

To register for the course, please use these links: