Certificate in Counselling Children and Young People OCT 25

This course is a six day, introductory training for trainee and qualified counsellors who are preparing to go into placement with clients aged 4-18 years old.

The course is designed to be an enjoyable first step into working with children and young people, with students assessed on an ongoing basis and at the conclusion of the course via a short presentation.

Course aims

The course includes both experiential learning and didactic teaching. There will be practical elements, group work, and opportunities for reflection and discussion, providing opportunities for the development of skills, learning of new information, and increasing of insight and awareness.

The certificate includes opportunities to gain basic play and creative interventions to support engagement and effective working with children and young people; it aligns with the BACP’s Stage 1 curriculum for children and young people which includes:

• Ethical and professional practice
• Child protection and safeguarding
• Child and adolescent development and transition
• Communication with children and/or young people
• Beginnings and endings with children and/or young people
• Risk assessments
• Mental health and children and/or young people
• Working within the context of the counselling setting

The BACP state:

‘The first stage of the training curriculum gives counsellors the basic skills and competences to begin working with children and/or young people.’

‘All students must successfully complete Stage 1 of the training curriculum before beginning work with children and/or young people in placement.’

What participants have said

‘A great overview/introduction to working with children and adolescents. Claire provided a wealth of experience and created a warm and safe learning environment. I loved it!’ - Jen, Course Participant November 2024

'This is a broad introduction to counselling children and young people that is ideal both for those who know that this is an area they would like to work in professionally and for those who are not yet sure. It provides the opportunity to learn not just from the kind and experienced course leader, but also from the expertise of the group participants.' - Course Participant November 2024

Dates and times: 30 hours. Live over Zoom. Sessions will not be recorded.

Saturdays 09.30-15.30

• October 4th 2025
• October 25th 2025
• November 29th 2025
• January 24th 2026
• February 21st 2026
• March 28th 2026

Cost: £499

Participant numbers: 12

Missed session: To meet the criteria of the course participants can only miss one session due to unavoidable circumstances. If a session is missed the participant will need to arrange a catch up over Zoom at the cost of £55 per session.

Recognition: A Link Centre Certificate will be presented.

Pre-Course Requirements: Participants should be qualified or trainee Counsellors or Psychotherapists.

Tutor: Claire Ward, Adv Dip Psych, Dip Couns, Dip Couns Teen, Dip Sup, FdA, MBACP

Claire is a therapist, tutor and supervisor working with adults, children and young people. She completed her psychotherapy training at The Link Centre and did her under 18s core training at the specialist London institutes: Terapia and The Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education; she added to this with further training at The Berne Institute. Claire works with a range of vulnerable children and young people in school and private practice, supporting difficulties experienced by children in the care system, with difference and disability, and those experiencing significant loss or trauma, for example. Claire has tutored at The Link Centre and in Kent, where she lives.