Bespoke Programme
This Level 5 Diploma is a bespoke programme, carefully designed around the areas of practice I believe are most important when working therapeutically with children and young people.
Rather than following a fixed national syllabus, the course draws on attachment theory, trauma-responsive practice, developmental understanding and creative interventions, bridging theory with real-world clinical work. This supports you to deepen your professional identity and confidence as a Child and Young People’s counsellor.
In this course, there is less emphasis on extensive written assignments and more focus on integration, understanding and application — supporting learning that feels meaningful, manageable and relevant to practice.
You will learn:
Attachment, Development and Therapeutic Relationships
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Attachment theory and early childhood attachments
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Adolescent attachment and the developing brain
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Child and adolescent developmental stages
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Building and maintaining effective therapeutic relationships
Foundations of
CYP Counselling
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Safe, ethical and legal frameworks when working with children and young people
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Confidentiality, consent, safeguarding and professional boundaries
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Inclusive practice with diverse and neurodiverse CYP
Therapeutic Approaches & Interventions
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Counselling approaches tailored to children and young people
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The role of play, creativity and storytelling in therapeutic work
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Creative and play-based interventions for expression and regulation
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Working therapeutically with neurodiverse CYP
Trauma, MentalHealth & Risk
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Trauma and trauma-responsive approaches
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Vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and self-care
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Common mental health presentations, including:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Self-harm
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Suicidal ideation
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Supporting CYP through loss, change, transitions and endings
Professional Development
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Integrating theory, research and reflective practice
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Monitoring and maintaining professional competence
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Working collaboratively with schools, social workers and multi-disciplinary teams
Learning Expereince
Teaching is experiential, reflective and clinically grounded, combining:
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Live Tutor-led teaching via Zoom
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Group discussion and exercises
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Case reflection
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Creative and experiential learning
You’ll also complete a group research project, developing collaboration, communication and presentation skills that mirror real professional practice.
Placement & Group Supervision
As part of the course, you will complete:
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20 hours of counselling practice with children and/or young people
Alongside this, you’ll take part in group supervision, providing a supportive space to:
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Reflect on your client work
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Explore challenges and emerging themes
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Develop your professional identity as a CYP counsellor
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Map your learning against professional competency frameworks
Assessment & Coursework
Assessment is designed to be integrated and meaningful, supporting your development.
You will complete:
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A reflective journal
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Online knowledge checks following training days
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Group exercises and experiential learning reflections
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A written case study based on supervised placement work
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Active participation in group supervision
Together, these build a coherent picture of your competence, learning and readiness to practise.
Course Requirements
Who This Course Is For
This diploma is designed for:
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Qualified counsellors ready to specialise in CYP work
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Counsellors interested in trauma-informed, attachment-based practice with CYP
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Counsellors working (or planning to work) in schools, agencies, charities or private practice with CYP
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Those committed to reflective, ethical and inclusive counselling
Course Dates
Training takes place across structured teaching blocks, combining Fridays and Saturdays to support working practitioners.
Sessions are live with Rachel, but online, so you can access the training from the comfort of your home.
Friday 4 - Saturday 5 September 2026
Friday 25 - Saturday 26 September 2026
Friday 9 - Saturday 10 October 2026
Friday 23 - Saturday 24 October 2026
Friday 13 - Saturday 14 November 2026
Friday 27 - Saturday 28 November 2026
Friday 18 - Saturday 19 December 2026
Friday 8 - Saturday 9 January 2027
Session Times: 9 am - 5 pm
Please ensure you have completed the application form before paying. Thank you.