Why train in online and telephone counselling now?

At a Glance

Counselling has changed. A significant proportion of therapy now happens online or by telephone — and ethical practice requires specific training in those modalities. If you're working remotely (or planning to), formal training is no longer optional; it's foundational.

How the profession has shifted

Before 2020, online and telephone counselling were niche specialisms. Most practitioners worked face-to-face, and online work was treated as an emerging area. The COVID pandemic changed all of that — and the changes haven't reversed.

Today:

• Many counsellors offer online or telephone sessions as their default, not their backup

• Many clients prefer remote therapy — for accessibility, geography, anonymity, or simply convenience

• Most placements in counselling training now expect students to work online or by telephone at some point

• Most professional bodies now publish frameworks and competences for online practice

What this means for ethical practice

Your ethical body expects you to work within your competence. If you work online, your competence needs to include online practice specifically — because online work has its own dynamics, risks, and ethical considerations that face-to-face training doesn't fully cover.

This is not a hypothetical concern. The BACP and NCPS both publish guidance on online practice. Working online without formal training in it puts you in a difficult position if anything ever needs explaining to your supervisor, your professional body, or your insurer.

What this course gives you

• The frameworks and skills to work safely and ethically online and by telephone

• A recognised qualification that demonstrates your competence to professional bodies, insurers, and clients

• Practical experience through buddy work with a peer of your own choosing, not just theory

• Confidence that you're working to the best practice standards expected of you

Want to know more?

You can see full course details — including upcoming intake dates, current pricing, and the course handbook — at the Certificate in Online and Telephone Counselling page.

If you have a specific question we haven't answered here, email us at support@counsellingtutor.com — a real person will reply within 24 hours.