What does it mean to work at your own pace?

At a Glance

The course is fully self-paced, and we mean it. There are no fixed deadlines, no live sessions to schedule into your life, and no falling behind. You work through the material at the pace that fits your existing commitments — and you stay in control of your own progress throughout.

What "self-paced" really means here

Some courses described as "self-paced" still come with fixed start dates, hidden deadlines, or live elements that quietly require you to be available at specific times. This course doesn't.

• No fixed live sessions — the entire course content is on-demand

• No assignment deadlines — you submit reflective work when you're ready

• No timetable to keep up with — the only structure is the order of the modules

• No falling behind — because there's nothing to fall behind on

What requires coordination

The only element that needs coordination with another person is the buddy work — and that's arranged between you and whoever you choose to practise with, at times you both choose. There are no fixed buddy slots set by the course.

Why this matters

Most members are working counsellors. You're seeing clients, attending supervision, managing administration, and balancing CPD with the rest of your life. A course with rigid deadlines or live sessions can quickly become a source of stress — exactly the opposite of what professional development should be.

The self-paced model removes that pressure. You progress steadily on your own terms, and the course shapes itself around your life rather than the other way round.

A reasonable rhythm

If you want a rough guide: 2–4 hours per week across several months will get most members through the course comfortably. Some members do it faster; some take longer. Both are fine.

If you have a quieter month coming up in your practice and want to push through more intensively, that works too. The course adapts.

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.