Cost: £990 (Instalment scheme available. An admin fee will be charged.)

All students registering for this course should read our course cancellation policy.

Who is this course for?
The course is designed for practitioners (e.g. in caring, education, mental health, mentoring, nursing, probation, psychology, social services, teaching and youth services) who are already working with children and young people. It is an opportunity to develop both new professional skills and also new self awareness.
The course is also a suitable introduction for those beginning therapeutic work with children and young people.

Course Aims:
The course aims to offer participants a reflective, supportive learning environment to:
* Examine a variety of theoretical models/philosophies for working with children and young people
* Explore their personal and professional experiences, values and beliefs in relation to working with children and young people
* Develop a good understanding of the ethical issues and legal responsibilities when working with children and young people
* Explore a variety of issues relevant to professional practice working with children and young people

Philosophy:
The course philosophy will be based upon the therapeutic relationship between the child/young person and the practitioner. The course facilitators will offer a variety of theoretical models (e.g. attachment theory, person centred approach, play therapy and solution focussed brief therapy) to explore the therapeutic relationship.

Course Dates/Times:
Module 1: Tuesday 28^th & Wednesday 29^th May 2019
Module 2: Monday 03^rd & Tuesday 04^th June 2019
Module 3: Monday 24^th & Tuesday 25^th & Wednesday 26^th June 2019
Module 4: Monday 08^th & Tuesday 09^th July 2019
Module 5: Monday 22^nd & Tuesday 23^rd July 2019

Each training day starts at 930am and ends at 430pm.
There will be morning, lunch and afternoon breaks during each training day.

Course Content:

Module 1: Beginnings, Assessment and Mental Health (2 days)
We will look at beginning work with children and young people and how to make assessments with this client group. We will also look at some of the key qualities needed to work with children and young people.
Mental health symptoms in children and young people can be an indicator of vulnerability or distress. We will explore presenting symptoms and their relevance in our interventions. We will also look at the process of diagnosis and the impact of labelling on children and young people.
We will also set out the course requirements and the course assessment, including self, peer and tutor feedback.

Module 2: Contracting, Limits of Confidentiality and Safeguarding (2 days)
We will look at how to establish a therapeutic contract/agreement with children and young people.
We will explore the limits of confidentiality available that apply in therapeutic work with children and young people.
We will cover the development of children’s rights and explore relevant legislation. We will also look at safeguarding/child protection, and the impact that this legislation and processes may have upon the therapeutic relationship.

Module 3: Methods of Working: The Therapeutic Relationship, Solution Focussed Brief Therapy and Creative Interventions (3 days)
We will explore the importance of the therapeutic relationship when working with children and young people. We will also explore how the core conditions of congruence; unconditional positive regard and empathy can help establish and develop the therapeutic relationship.
We will look at an introduction to Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and how the theory can be employed with children and young people.
We will also how to use creative methods with children and young people. Course participants will have the opportunity to learn how to use sand play, art therapy skills, and also stories.

Module 4: Professional Practice Issues: Sexual Abuse and Self Harm (2 days)
We will explore the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse and look at Child Sexual Exploitation in children and young people. We will also explore what the therapeutic relationship can offer those working with children and young people who have been sexually abused.
We will look at different examples of self-harm and the impact of self harm on children and young people’s lives. We will also explore what children and young people who are self-harming may need from a therapeutic relationship.

Module 5: Professional Practice Issues: Anger and Endings: Bereavement and Loss (2 days)
We will look at how children and young people deal with anger. We will also look at what happens in the brain and body when children and young people become angry.
We will consider the impact of ending therapeutic relationships with children and young people, and explore how theories of loss and grief may be helpful in understanding these endings.
We will also attend to our ending as a group by reviewing learning from the course.

Course Teaching:
Each training day will consist of teaching using case studies, creative exercises, large group discussion, theoretical input, skills practice, work in pairs and experiential learning.

Course Accreditation:
The Ellesmere Centre for Psychotherapy and Training has received Advanced Specialist Training status from the National Counselling Society.

This course counts as 60.5 training hours.

Please consult your own professional body regarding their continuing professional development (CPD) criteria.

Entry Requirements:
Qualification in counselling
OR
Other relevant professional training qualification (e.g. caring, education, psychology, mental health, social work, teaching or youth work)
AND
Practice experience working with children/young people (Or about to start working with children/young people)

Course Application:
* Completion of Application Form, Equality & Diversity Form, and 2 Satisfactory References
* Payment of Course Fees
* Interview with Course Facilitator or Centre Director: Either Face To Face or by Telephone

Download 2019 Application Form CYP

Download 2019 Equality & Diversity Form CYP

Course Requirements:
1. Attendance at all modules (If you are not able to all modules, you may be asked to complete an additional assignment to make up for missed training hours. This will be discussed and agreed with the course facilitator.)
2. A learning journal of self reflection throughout the course
3. Completion of course assessment
4. Payment of course fees

Course Assessment:
* Ongoing self and peer assessment
* Learning Statement to be shared with the group in Module 5
* A tutor assessed assignment. Choose ONE from the following options:
1. An Essay (3000 words): Describe a rationale with reference to theory/theories that underpin your practice with children and/or young people OR
2. An Essay (3000 words): Describe the place of ethical and legal issues within your way of working with children and young people OR
3. A Book Review (2000 words): Describe your personal and professional response to a book about therapeutic work with children and young people OR
4. A Presentation: The 15 minute presentation will be about a topic working with children and young people. Include 1. a (100 word) rationale for your presentation and 2. a (1000 words) reflection about your personal and professional learning the presentation.

Course Facilitator:
John Bradley

John is a person centred counsellor, supervisor and trainer. He is a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist (Children and Young People) and a BACP Senior Accredited Supervisor. John has a Diploma in person centred counselling and Certificates in counselling supervision, therapeutic play and group facilitation. John has worked as a counsellor with children and young people (aged 10 to 25) for over 15 years with local authority counselling projects in East Yorkshire and Hull, and also for Lincoln University’s Counselling Service (offering counselling to students aged 18 years upwards). For 9 years John offered basic listening skills training to gap year young people (aged 16 to 19) in a retreat centre in Kent. For the last 4 years, John has worked as a counsellor with children, young people and adults (clients aged 7 upwards), supervisor and trainer in private practice based at the Ellesmere Centre. John also offers counselling in two secondary schools in Hull.

Guest Trainers:
Dr Louise Mowthorpe

Louise is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, and has over 20 years of experience working with children, young people and their families/carers in a Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Louise currently works for Hull CAMHS. She has previously managed a Looked after Children’s CAMHS in North East Lincolnshire. She is also been employed to provide consultation to Action for Children in North Lincolnshire, a service for children and young people who are suffering from difficulties relating to their trauma as a result of being subject to abuse. Louise has diplomas in non-directive play therapy and transactional analysis psychotherapy, is a qualified filial play therapist and EMDR therapist.

Mark Johns

Mark is qualified social worker and counsellor. Since 1989 he has worked as a Social Worker within Local Authority and Voluntary settings, including a year working in a multicultural therapeutic setting in New Zealand. His interest in Solution Focussed and Narrative approaches to therapy started in the early 1990’s, and since then this has formed the core of my approach to working therapeutically using creative media. Between 1997 and 2004 he developed a Brief Therapy Service to assist families following disclosure of abuse, and in 2004 provided Supervision for a Brief Therapy Service at a Local Authority Adolescent Centre in Kent. Mark currently works for a charity where for the last 21 years he has been providing therapeutic interventions for children who have experienced sexual abuse, and working with their carers to promote their capacity to support them. Over the last four years he has also provided consultation to a team in Manchester who undertake abuse-related therapeutic work.