- In an increasingly intricate world, individuals turn to online platforms for guidance from trained counselors regarding various psychological and social challenges. The training of competent and effective counselors is challenging, requiring specific strategies, methods and realistic role-playing scenarios. VirCo (Virtual Client for Online Counseling) is an innovative educational platform that employs an open-source large language model (LLM) to simulate clients facing psycho-social problems. VirCo enables learners to engage with a variety of client personas through realistic conversations, thereby enhancing their counseling abilities in a self-directed manner. Furthermore, it features tools for course development, assignments, and multiple feedback systems, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This innovative use of AI technology offers scalable and practical training solutions, contributing to a skilled and proficient workforce in online counseling.