Child Psychotherapeutic Counselling
This includes early intervention with children and young people and would normally be delivered within the therapeutic frame and take place on a weekly basis, so that children receive support in regular 1:1 sessions.
This can be defined as short term, (6 – 12 sessions) time-limited (12-24 sessions) or long term (24+ or open ended). It can be long term and in-depth supporting children to build their sense of self and relationships with others.
Practice includes the use of play and creative arts materials to enable age-appropriate communication with children and young people. The aims include enabling children to address emotional and behavioural difficulties, managing the challenges and opportunities in connecting to the inner life and orientating to the outer world, in ways which promote self-awareness, choices, recovery from complex lived experiences and the ability to function effectively in relationships within the child’s environment.
This can include children or young people who are struggling with physical, cognitive, social and emotional difficulties or relational challenges to help them manage their presenting issues including complex mental health challenges, painful life experiences, significant personal losses, suffering and distress. Practitioners alleviate suffering through empathy and relational dialogue.
This can include in depth reflection and analysis over time, researching the lived experience of children and young people as well as extensive self-inquiry.
Length of Training
The duration of education is three years of professional training including a foundation year. This can be at undergraduate level and qualification must be at a minimum degree level. This includes 450 hours tutor contact time as well as independent study, reading, written work, research and presentation.
Personal Therapy and Supervision
Students are required to do a minimum of 105 hours of personal therapy and a minimum of 50 hours of supervision.
Placement
Students must complete 450 hours of placement and this can be organised in accordance with their training development needs in professional settings including a minimum of 450 hours across the age range including 20 hours of 3-6 years, 20 hours of 6-9, 20 hours of 9-12 years, and 6 hours 13-18 years.
Following three years of education, training, research and practice including final examinations the graduate can be awarded the title of Child Psychotherapeutic Counsellor