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Counselling Qualify as a counsellor in three years with our part-time, BACP & ACC-accredited training in Farnham, Surrey. Contemporary Chaplaincy Part-time, online training for those called to serve in or beyond the walls of the church—in everyday and professional contexts. View all courses We offer programmes through blended learning, 100% online delivery, and different study patterns depending on the course.
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Introduction to Christian Care and Counselling (ICCC) A 5-day introduction to Christian care and counselling, designed to help you develop counselling skills for ministry, pastoral care, or everyday life. Waverley Abbey Certificate of Christian Counselling Build a strong foundation in counselling through this 1-year, Level 4 equivalent course, grounded in a Christian worldview. Diploma of Higher Education in Counselling Qualify as a professional counsellor in 3 years through this part-time, Level 5 diploma programme, grounded in a Christian worldview. BA (Hons) Counselling Qualify as a professional counsellor in 4–5 years through this part-time, Level 6 degree programme, grounded in a Christian worldview. MA Professional Counselling: Theory and Practice For those with a degree, become a professionally qualified counsellor in 3 years through this part-time, Level 7 Master's programme.
BA (Hons) Counselling Top-Up For those already practising, gain a Level 6 degree in 1–2 years with a direct route to ACC accreditation (SCoPEd Column B) as a graduate outcome. MA in Therapeutic Counselling, Psychotherapy and Supervision For those already practising, gain a Level 7 Master's degree online in 3 years alongside your existing practice. Certificate in Integrating Christian Faith with Counselling (ICFC) For qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who want to ethically integrate faith, religion, and spirituality within a clinical context. Counselling Young People: Skills and Competences For counsellors and trainees looking to begin working safely and competently with children and young people (ages 4–18).
Introduction to Contemporary Chaplaincy A 6-week online introduction to chaplaincy for those who sense a pull to be a Christian presence outside the church. Certificate in Contemporary Chaplaincy Become a chaplain in one year. Gain the skills, experience, and confidence to serve in the church and beyond. Chaplaincy Skills for Schools A 15-week online foundational course for those who want to understand and develop chaplaincy skills for school settings.

THE WAVERLEY
INTEGRATIVE
FRAMEWORK

At the heart of every Waverley Abbey College programme lies the Waverley Integrative Framework (WIF) — the distinctive foundation that shapes how we teach, train, and form counsellors and chaplains.

Originally pioneered by Selwyn Hughes in the 1980s, reimagined by Ron Kallmier in 2011, and then re-developed by Dr Owen Ashley in 2015, the WIF brings together professional counselling theory and practice within a coherent Christian understanding of the human person.

Made in God’s image

At the core of Waverley Abbey training is a Christian anthropology rooted in the imago Dei: the conviction that every person is made in the image of God, intrinsically valuable, and relational at the deepest level of their being. 

From this foundation, the WIF trains counsellors to hold together three commitments:

  • Professional competence
    Grounded in recognised counselling theory, research, and practice.
  • Christian worldview
    Shaping the practitioner’s understanding of human worth, suffering, growth, and hope.
  • Ethical integrity
    Honouring client autonomy, accountability, and professional boundaries.

Relational and holistic

The WIF emphasises the core therapeutic conditions of genuineness, unconditional acceptance, and empathy, while attending to the whole person: relational, physical, emotional, volitional, rational, and spiritual. It recognises universal human needs for security, self-worth, and significance, equipping practitioners to work with depth, sensitivity, and realism.

Faithful and professional

The WIF trains practitioners to discern when, how, and if Christian faith insights are appropriate within professional practice. This equips graduates to work credibly and ethically — including in the NHS, secular agencies, churches, charities, and private practice — with clients of any faith or none.