This online counselling course focuses on the integrated method of child counselling with significant reference to using narrative and imagery techniques. For adolescents who are struggling with the transition to adulthood, special counselling skills and approaches are required, together with proactive and creative strategies. In addition to the counselling approaches, various working models and theories specific to this field will be explored as well as behavioural, psychosocial strategies and reflective practice.

The course is divided into 10 units of study, you can read a detailed summary of each unit below.

Child and Adolescent Counselling Short Course Content

Unit 1: Introduction, discussion and reappraisal of counselling skills

This module looks at how we define children and adolescents in the modern society. It also looks in detail at the five theories which have been adopted as approaches in counselling. In this module the work of Freud, Rogers, Skinner, Ellis, Jung and Eagan will be looked at in brief, and the corresponding counselling approaches examined.

Unit 2: The psychodynamic approach relevant to child and adolescent counselling

This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Unit 3: The cognitive behavioural approach relevant to child and adolescent counselling

This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Unit 4: The person-centred approach relevant to child and adolescent counselling

This module will look at how they work and are applied to the counselling situation. Specific examples and activities will give the student indications as to which particular set of client circumstances benefits most from this approach.

Unit 5: Ethics, issues of consent, and the child/adolescent – counsellor relationship

This module will discuss boundaries or limitations and will look at how to recognise and deal with these. It will also look at what types of consent and responsibilities the counsellor has to seek when working with children. It also looks at how the counsellor builds up a trusting and communicative relationship with children and adolescents.

Unit 6: Main concepts and counselling skills of child counselling

This module looks at how the process of child counselling works and how the counsellor applies the working models and techniques to facilitate change.

Unit 7: The role of play and specific activities in child counselling

This module looks at how the use of storytelling, games and play using various toys and creative mediums can enhance exploration and facilitation in child counselling.

Unit 8: Using worksheets for goal setting, exploration and expression in child counselling

This module examines the use of worksheets and gives some examples of how they might be used effectively in different situations.

Unit 9: Adolescent counselling: understanding

This module looks at how the counsellor builds the relationship through understanding the adolescent’s environmental influences, stresses and attachments.

Unit 10: Adolescent counselling: proactive practice and specific strategies

This module explores how the counsellor implements a proactive approach, effectively communicates and facilitates behaviour changes in the adolescent. It also discusses some creative and psychosocial strategies which are specific to this field of counselling.

Child and Adolescent Counselling Short Course Diploma Entry Requirements

All students must be 18 years of age and above to enter into our Child and Adolescent Counselling Short Course Diploma (Level 3).

Short Course Diploma courses require a minimum prior learning to GCSE standard in order that students can manage their studies and the assumed knowledge within course content.

Study Hours

200 hours in total or 20 hours per week over 10 weeks.

Assessment

Written assessment at the end of each unit of study.