CWR is launching the first single-honours BA degree in Counselling taught from a Christian worldview.

Leading to an award by Roehampton University, the pioneering programme is part-time and delivered over four years.

Much celebration followed the news from Roehampton University that the rigorous and lengthy approval process had reached a successful conclusion.

The course is based on the training initiated by CWR founder Selwyn Hughes.

"Refined and delivered by a host of dedicated professionals, we are now able to add a degree level counsellor training to our courses of substance and quality for the whole spectrum of people helpers and those involved in pastoral care," said Chief Executive Mick Brooks.

Although demanding commitment and application from students, the course is built flexibly and can be accommodated around the calls of work and home.

The taught elements of the programme are delivered programme are delivered primarily at weekends. Students will benefit from a high level of tutorial support.

CWR said the new degree offers training to the highest professional standards within a strong Christian framework.

Diane Bray, Head of the Psychology Department at Roehampton University, is sponsoring the degree.

She said: "We have already established and excellent working relationship with CWR and expect this to be a very successful partnership. The University’s approval panel particularly commended the quality of the degree proposal and the level of care exhibited to students at Waverly."

Years One and Two of the programme are similar to CWR’s very popular and long-running Waverly Certificate of Christian Counselling and subsequent Diploma. The new degree is already generating much interest from past students of these courses, as they line up to access Year Three directly.

Keen to promote an incremental and flexible approach, CWR is welcoming students who would rather apply for a year at a time, enabling them to see how they get on. It is also possible to take a year out or conclude the programme earlier than initially intended.

The new degree programme will be led by Heather Churchill, BA Hons (Brunel) MTh (Middx) MBACP (senior Accred) ACC (Accred Counsellor and Supervisor). The teaching team will comprise recognised university lecturers and highly experienced counselling practitioners.

Together they will ensure that graduates find themselves at the leading edge of the counselling profession and well placed as regards future Government regulation.

With a Year One cohort due to begin in November and a Year Three cohort in January CWR’s Director of Training, Elizabeth Hodkinson, is eager for the programme to be underway:

“As far as we know, this is the first single-honours counselling degree in the UK taught from a Christian worldview," she said.

"There is much excitement as we take this big step forward. Our hope and prayer is that in the next few years many hundreds will gain university validated counselling awards and then use their learning, gifts and skills to help thousands".

Interest in the programme is being received from a wide range of people, including those involved in pastoral care, Christian ministry, caring professions and those sensing a call to professional counselling.

CWR is hosting a Counselling Training open day at Waverly Abbey House on Saturday 11 September, at which the new degree will be profiled and discussed.

On the web:
www.cwr.org.uk/ba
www.cwr.org.uk/pcc