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Advanced Certificate in Working Therapeutically with Children and Young People
An overview.
The Advanced Certificate in Working Therapeutically with Children and Young People is a specialist post-qualifying training programme designed for qualified counsellors who wish to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence required to work therapeutically with children and young people.
This practical and experiential programme has been developed for practitioners who already hold a recognised adult counselling qualification and wish to extend their practice into child and adolescent work. The programme combines theoretical study, experiential learning, reflective enquiry and supervised clinical practice to support the development of ethical, relationally-informed and developmentally appropriate therapeutic work with children and young people.
Participants are encouraged to integrate theory, research, professional standards and lived experience while developing their own authentic practitioner identity within child and adolescent practice.
The programme is intentionally delivered to a small cohort of no more than eight participants, creating a rich learning environment where experiential practice, observation, feedback and professional dialogue can be explored in depth.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for qualified counsellors working within private, public, voluntary, educational or healthcare settings who wish to develop specialist knowledge and practical skills for working therapeutically with children and young people.
The programme is intended for practitioners who already meet SCoPEd Level A / Level 4 Diploma (or equivalent) standards and wish to extend their clinical competence into child and adolescent work.
When does the course begin?
We are currently accepting applications for January 2027.
Places are limited to eight participants to ensure a highly experiential and supportive learning environment.
Aims of the course.
This practical and experiential programme recognises that effective therapeutic counselling work with children and young people requires more than adapting adult counselling approaches. Practitioners must understand developmental processes, attachment, trauma, safeguarding, diversity, family systems and the wider contexts in which children and young people live.
The programme places particular emphasis on experiential learning, recognising that competence in working with children and young people develops through the integration of knowledge, skills, self-awareness, reflection and supervised practice.
The course supports participants in developing the knowledge, skills and professional confidence required to work ethically, safely and effectively with children and young people across a range of settings.
The learning aims are:
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To develop participants' knowledge, understanding and practical skills in working therapeutically with children and young people
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To explore developmental, attachment-based and trauma-informed perspectives and critically consider their application to practice
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To deepen awareness of relational dynamics, emotional regulation, communication and the use of self within child and adolescent work
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To engage critically with current research, professional literature and developments within the field
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To provide opportunities to practise therapeutic skills and critically evaluate interventions within a supportive learning environment
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To encourage reflective practice and consideration of the participant's own professional role, context and emerging CYP practitioner identity
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To support the development of ethical, inclusive and professionally accountable practice with children, young people and their families
What are the main theoretical areas?
The programme draws upon a range of contemporary approaches relevant to child and adolescent practice, including:
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Developmental Psychology
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Attachment Theory
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Trauma-Informed Practice
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Integrative Counselling Approaches
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Play, Creative and Expressive Methods
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Neurodiversity-Affirming Practice
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Safeguarding and Risk Management
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Family Systems and Relational Perspectives
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Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Oppressive Practice
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Therapeutic Communication with Children and Young People
Why Choose an Advanced Certificate?
Unlike short introductory CPD courses, this programme has been designed to support the development of sustained competence in therapeutic work with children and young people.
Participants engage in structured study, experiential skills practice, supervised clinical work, reflective enquiry and assessment over a period of six months, enabling learning to be integrated directly into practice.
The programme is intended for qualified counsellors who wish to develop confidence, capability and professional accountability when working with children and young people across a range of settings.
Expectations
What are the entry requirements?
Applicants must:
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Hold a recognised professional qualification in Counselling that meets SCoPEd Level A / Level 4 Diploma (or equivalent) standards
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Be currently practising or preparing to practise within a counselling context
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Be able to undertake the required clinical practice and supervision elements of the programme
All prospective participants will be invited to attend an admissions interview via Zoom.
What will be expected of participants?
The course includes directed and self-directed learning, group participation, reflective practice, experiential learning activities, skills development, observation exercises, self-awareness work, peer learning and independent study.
As a highly experiential programme, participants should be prepared to engage actively in skills practice, observation, feedback processes and reflective enquiry throughout the duration of the course. Learning from these experiences contributes towards the completion of assignments, professional portfolio work and the development of clinical competence.
Participants are expected to engage fully with the programme and demonstrate a commitment to their own professional and personal development throughout the duration of the course.
A minimum attendance rate of 80% is required in order to successfully complete the assessment process.
Clinical Practice Requirements
To achieve the qualification, participants are required to complete:
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30 hours of clinical work with children and young people
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6 hours of clinical supervision related to that work
Important Information About Clinical Hours
Whilst the taught programme concludes in July 2027, participants have until 31 December 2027 to complete the required 30 hours of therapeutic work with children and young people and submit any outstanding portfolio evidence.
This extended completion period allows participants sufficient time to integrate their learning into practice and acquire the required clinical experience.
What the course looks like.
Where is the course based?
The course is delivered entirely in person at Training for Counsellors Ltd. Haydock House, Haydock Mews, Pleckgate Road, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 8RP.
How long is the course?
This course is delivered weekly over 25 teaching weeks.
Start Date: 7 January 2027
End Date: 15 July 2027
Each training session is 4.5 hours and combines:
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Theoretical input
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Experiential learning
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Skills practice
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Observation and feedback
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Reflective enquiry
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Integration of learning into practice
How is the course delivered?
This is a collaborative and highly experiential learning programme which offers both support and constructive challenge. The course has been designed to provide opportunities for participants to integrate theory, ethics, self-awareness and practical skills through active engagement in the learning process.
Learning takes place through tutor-led teaching, facilitated discussion, experiential exercises, skills practice, observation activities, reflective enquiry, peer learning and independent study. Participants are encouraged to critically examine both theory and practice whilst developing their own authentic approach to therapeutic work with children and young people.
A significant proportion of the programme is experiential in nature. Participants will engage in live skills practice, observation of therapeutic interactions, structured feedback processes, creative activities and reflective group learning designed to support the development of confidence, competence and professional judgement.
Cohort numbers are limited to a maximum of eight participants. This enables learners to receive meaningful feedback, engage deeply in experiential exercises and benefit from repeated opportunities to practise, observe and refine their therapeutic skills within a supportive learning community.
The programme recognises that working therapeutically with children and young people requires more than theoretical knowledge alone. Practitioners must develop relational awareness, emotional attunement, ethical sensitivity and the ability to respond flexibly to developmental needs. The experiential nature of the course allows participants to explore these capacities in a safe and professionally facilitated environment.
Learning is evidenced through portfolio development, written assignments, recorded skills work, client records, supervision records and practical assessment activities.
The learning environment is grounded in adult learning principles and informed by the educational philosophy of Carl Rogers. We recognise that participants bring significant personal and professional experience to the programme. This knowledge and experience is valued and utilised sensitively within the learning community to support meaningful personal and professional development.
What is the assessment process?
Assessment is designed to support the integration of theory, practice and professional reflection.
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Assignment 1: My counselling journey so far and its implications for working therapeutically with children and young people. (1000 words or 10 minute audio submission)
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Assignment 2: Case Study 1; Analysis of a recorded simulated CYP dyad (2500-words or 25-minutes audio submission)
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Assignment 3: Case Study 2; analysis of work with a CYP client. (2500-words or 25-minutes audio submission)
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Portfolio submission against NCPS Competences which includes: competence mapping; client hours record; supervision hours record; selected client record examples; selected reflective entries.
Assessment tasks are designed to evidence both theoretical understanding and the application of learning within therapeutic work with children and young people.
Costs
What is the cost?
As this is the inaugural delivery of the programme, participants joining the January 2027 cohort will benefit from a reduced Founding Cohort Fee of £1,695. Future cohorts may be subject to revised pricing as the programme develops.
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£295.00 non-refundable deposit secures a place on the course
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Flexible payment options are available: £200/month due 1 Jan 27, 1 Feb 27, 1 Mar 27, 1 Apr 27, 1 May 27, 1 Jun 27, 1 Jul 27
The course fee includes training attendance, course materials, assessment, moderation and certification.
Are there any other costs?
Participants are expected to purchase or access recommended reading relevant to child and adolescent therapeutic practice.
In addition, participants are required to undertake supervision of their clinical work with children and young people. A minimum of six hours of supervision is required across the duration of the programme.
Participants will require access to:
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A reliable internet connection
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A device capable of supporting online video conferencing
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A private and confidential space from which to attend training and participate in skills practice activities
About the facilitators/assessors.
Samantha Crapnell MA CPP, MBACP, MNCS (Accred), Assoc. CIPD, Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision
Sam Crapnell is the Founder and Director of Training for Counsellors Ltd, an award-winning provider of counselling qualifications, supervision training and professional development for helping professionals.
A qualified Clinical Supervisor, Therapeutic Counsellor, Executive Coach and Training Facilitator, Sam combines extensive experience in counselling, supervision and learning and development to create training that is practical, experiential and professionally relevant. Alongside delivering the Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling and the Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision, she provides specialist CPD in areas including neurodiversity, reflective practice and professional development.
Zara Winstanley MBACP, MNCS (Accred), BSc (Hons) Psychology, PGDip Counselling & Psychotherapy, Advanced Diploma in Clinical Supervision
Zara is an accredited counsellor and psychotherapist with over 15 years' experience working with children, young people and families across a range of settings, including mental health services, children's counselling services, secure residential care, primary care and hospice services. She brings extensive experience of working with neurodivergent children and young people, including those with autism, ADHD and dyslexia.
Her approach is integrative, relational and developmentally informed, drawing upon creative and expressive methods to support engagement, emotional wellbeing and therapeutic growth. Zara is passionate about inclusive practice and the importance of working collaboratively with children, young people and their families to support positive outcomes.
What next?
For further contact and or to apply, please complete the contact form or email Sam on info@training-for-counsellors.co.uk.
Click here to complete the contact form and begin your application.
Applications are currently open for January 2027.
Places are limited to a maximum of eight participants.