S.M.I.L.E. Counselling provides training for both professionals and members of the community. Our courses allow you to gain certification across a range of specialisms. Counselling, Psychotherapy, Suicide First Aid Intervention & Prevention, Mental Health First Aid.
Participant Feedback
“I felt the content was very full. I was pleased that I learnt new things (because I have already had general trauma informed training, but this was so much more). It was never boring – I felt fully engaged in the presentation throughout the day.”
“Andy and SMILE are great at giving space for questions, explaining in a digestible way and providing experiential examples. I always leave with my head buzzing with new knowledge and have such a high appreciation for all the time, effort, skill and years of experience poured into the materials. Thank you!”
CPD Events
Join our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) events designed specifically for therapists, counsellors, and mental health professionals. Our workshops and training sessions provide valuable insights into the latest therapeutic approaches, tools, and techniques to enhance your practice. Led by experienced practitioners, these events foster professional growth, ensuring you stay at the forefront of mental health care while meeting your CPD requirements in a supportive and engaging environment.
We also offer bespoke CPD events tailored to meet the specific needs of your organisation, providing customised training to help your team excel.
Your comfort and accessibility are paramount, so if you have any questions about this, or the training we offer please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Attachment and Relationships:
Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD)
This event aims to build the confidence of participants in working with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD). This will be achieved by reviewing the symptomology relevant to this presentation to broaden understanding, before exploring the presenting issues in more depth, and understanding EUPD from a biological and psychological perspective. The focus will then shift to the implementation of therapist ways of being and practical interventions that may improve quality of life.
Gestalt Therapy:
The aim of this event is to introduce participants to the key concepts and processes involved in Gestalt Therapy. This will include presentation of some of the theory as well as practical exercises that participants might integrate into therapeutic practice as well as their own lives. The day will focus on existentialism, field theory, contacting the environment, opposites and change, cycle of awareness, and interruptions.
Self-Esteem:
This event aims to broaden participants understanding of what self esteem actually means by drawing on the work of Melanie Fennel. Once a common understanding has been established the focus will shift to formulating client’s understanding of issues related to self-esteem. The focus will then shift to working with self-esteem drawing on cognitive behavioural interventions, imagery-based interventions, and the technique of self characterisation used in personal construct psychology.
To find out more please email the training team at:
Upcoming CPD Events:
DATES
Upcoming events:
All events can be delivered face to face or online and run from 9.30 to 4.30pm
Attachment & Relationships
Emotionally unstable personality disorder
Gestalt Therapy
Self Esteem
LOCATION
In Person
S.M.I.L.E. Counselling & Training
Fairbairn House
6 Fairbairn Place
Livingston
EH54 6TN
PRICE
£95 per person
Participant Feedback
“The course has been fantastic so far, it has gone beyond my expectations. Really enjoying it.”
“This has really helped me find a way to support people without losing myself in the process”
“The triads and skill sessions, as well as receiving feedback from the course tutor was especially helpful in aiding my learning and giving me the confidence in my own counselling practice and skills.”
“Has given me a better insight in to the area of counselling and will use these skills in my work place. The tutors have been supportive throughout all modules and the knowledge gained will be helpful in the future”
COSCA
(Counselling & Psychotherapy in Scotland)
CERTIFICATE IN COUNSELLING SKILLS
SMILE Counselling is a COSCA (Counselling and Psychotherapy in Scotland) Validated Training Provider.
This fun and fast paced course suits all those who are interested in developing self awareness and counselling skills. This is an experiential course with delivery including group activities, media, skills practice and written text. It is ideal if you are in, or considering, employment in a helping role. While this course does not lead to a qualification suitable for practicing counselling, it can assist you in your next step in applying for further study in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
The course provides 120 hours of training towards a level 8 SCQF certificate validated by COSCA (40 SCQF credits). The four modules each contain elements of skills, knowledge, self-awareness and ethics, which includes an element of self-reflection within a confidential environment. There are four themes associated with the modules:
- Module One: Advanced Communication Skills
- Module Two: Exploration and Expansion
- Module Three: Review and Reflection
- Module Four: Integration
Our course participants are already benefitting from and appreciating learning about:
- Counselling skills and approaches
- The application of these skills either within the workplace or for personal development
- The difference between Counselling as a professional activity and Counselling Skills that could prove valuable for people in a wide variety of occupations.
For further information, view the Certificate in Counselling Skills Information Leaflet here.
or email: [email protected]
COSCA Organisational Membership - 4321
Next Course:
DATES
Upcoming course
Online Dates Thurs Evenings
12th September 2024 to 28th August 2025, inclusive [Course now FULL]
28th August 2025 to16th July 2026, inclusive [Applications Open]
17.30 -20.45 Thursday evenings online
Online Dates Tues Evenings
LOCATION
Online Or In Person
S.M.I.L.E. Counselling & Training
Fairbairn House
6 Fairbairn Place
Livingston
EH54 6TN
PRICE
The cost is £300 per Module (£1200 for the whole course including materials, handbooks and certificate).
Payment is due for each module in advance.
A £100 deposit will secure successful applicants.
Participant Feedback
“Course Tutors are very knowledgeable and are very supportive and helpful. Really enjoying the course and looking forward to starting placement soon ”
“Really enjoyed the whole weekend. I appreciate the care and support of the tutors. “
“I’m always really grateful for how neurodiverse aware SMILE and the tutors are. I forget just how much until I spend spaces in professional areas which are not. I’m always grateful for the micro breaks and freedom to move.”
Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR 2025!
Welcome to the Diploma in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy, working with Children, Young People and Adults (COSCA validated, credit rated by SQA at SCQF Level 11 with 88 SCQF credit points).
S.M.I.L.E. Counselling & Training have set this Diploma with the aim to provide a solid foundation in the integrative approach to counselling practice. The course is based upon the Humanistic, Person-Centred modality, recognising the individual strengths and qualities of the therapeutic agreement.
This course is theoretically informed by Person-Centred, Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioural theories. There is an emphasis on the therapeutic relationship, self-awareness, empowerment of clients, and awareness of social and cultural contexts as being at the core of therapeutic change. The final module focuses on the competences of therapeutic practice, working with children and young people.
- 2 year, part-time professional Diploma which qualifies you to work with children, young people & adults
- Graduates are fully qualified to work within the Integrative Counselling approach
- Graduates recognised as qualified counsellors and are able to register with COSCA or BACP
- Our Diploma also includes online learning in Safeguarding Level 2 and;
- Our Trauma Informed SQA Mental Wellbeing & Health qualification Level 5
The academic year for the course runs over a 10-month period from September to June, with breaks in line with the West Lothian Academic calendar.
View the further information below. If you have any questions, please contact: [email protected]
COSCA Organisational Membership - 4321
Next Course:
DATES
Sep 2025 to June 2027
1 weekend per month (or as per course dates)
Fridays – 5:00 – 8:30pm
Saturdays & Sundays – 9:30 – 6:00pm
Beginning – Year 1 05/09/2025 to 28/06/2026
Year 2 05/09/2026 to 20/06/2027
OR weekly every Friday from 9.00am until 16.30pm as per course dates
Beginning – Year 1 05/09/2025 to 10/07/2026
Year 2 – 11/09/2026 to 02/07/2027
LOCATION
Face to face in SMILE office in Livingston
PRICE
The total cost is £8,250.
A non refundable £500 deposit is required to secure your place.
View the Course fees for more details.
Participant Feedback
“The resources, real life discussions and impactful videos provided valuable insights along with recognising the importance of self care. I now have a deeper understanding of mental wellbeing and health, in both professional and personal contexts which is crucial for creating a supportive environment for the challenges faced by both our learners and our staff.”
“Each week has brought something both thought provoking and informative, the topics – Safeguarding, trauma, attachment, stress and anxiety, depression and mood, self-harm, CSE, suicide prevention are all so relevant to today’s learners and tomorrows. Learning to not be afraid to talk or ask the right questions is key. So grateful to engage with such a thoughtful group with great ambitions for becoming trauma informed.”
M.W.A.H
(Mental Wellbeing and Health)
S.M.I.L.E. Counselling has developed this course with our whole community in mind. Our aim is to be able to deliver this not only within communities but to professionals and young people in schools.
This will be a 9-module course covering the following topics:
Pre-Course learning – Safeguarding Level 2 (required to be completed online 7 days prior to beginning the taught element of the course).
Module 1 – Wellbeing and Recovery
Module 2 – Attachment and Relationships
Module 3 – Depression and Mood
Module 4 – Stress & Anxiety
Module 5 – Understanding Young People & Self -harm
Module 6 – Child Sexual Exploitation & Online Safety
Module 7 – Suicide Awareness
Module 8 – Bereavement & Loss
You do not need any formal or previous qualifications to attend.
You can purchase the full course for your company. If you would like to join us on the course, please email us at [email protected]
SQA Approved Centre - 3026949
Next Course:
DATES
TBC
LOCATION
Online via Zoom
PRICE
The cost of the full course including the pre-online module, taught modules, materials, handbooks and certificates is £495. You will be invoiced ahead of the course starting.
Participant Feedback
“Really enjoyed the course. Good content that whilst hard hitting, was delivered sensitively. Good balance of input, participation and activities. Both trainers worked well together.“
“I thought Declan was an outstanding facilitator. He sensitively created a supportive, open, safe atmosphere within the group and was able to hold space for group sharing and discussion very well. There was also a lovely balance between an emotional topic and humour which made the course informative, memorable, fun and poignant.”
ASIST
(Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
A two-day skill building workshop that prepares participants to provide suicide first-aid interventions.
ASIST trains participants to reduce the immediate risk of suicide and increase the support for a person at risk. The workshop helps participants recognise what a person at risk may need from others in order to keep safe and get help.
As an ASIST trained first aid intervention caregiver, you will be better able to:
- Identify people who have thoughts of suicide
- Seek a shared understanding of the reasons for thoughts of suicide and the reasons for living
- Review current risk and develop a plan to increase safety from suicidal behaviour
- Follow up on all safety commitments, accessing further help as needed
- Recognise invitations for help
- Reach out and offer support
- Apply a suicide intervention model
- Link people with community resources
ASIST is for everyone (over the age of 18) and can help both professionals and members of the community such as ; emergency service workers, counsellors, teachers, ministers, mental health staff, workers in health, welfare and justice, parents/relatives and community volunteers.
Upcoming courses:
£210 per person (min of 16 people). This cost is inclusive of a comprehensive package that includes not only the training program itself but also factors in the provision of a training venue and various associated costs. Should certain elements not be required, we are more than happy to tailor our quote accordingly, providing you with the most cost-effective solution without compromising on quality.
DATES
Upcoming ASIST Dates:
27th & 28th March
Location: West Lothian College