Course Aims

Aims of the course

The aims of the course are:

• To equip students with a knowledge base to critically engage with the dominant paradigms of mental health and emotional wellbeing in their work with this specialist client group. • To prepare for engaging in multidisciplinary collaboration. • To prepare students to become practicing Counsellors who work sensitively, competently and ethically with children, adolescents, young adults and families. • To support students in developing a familiarity with the range of social, cultural and religious contexts from which children, adolescents, young adults and their families may be drawn, so that they may acquire competence as a professional and culturally sensitive Counsellor with children, adolescents, young adults and their families. • To facilitate and develop students’ awareness of the ethical principles and personal qualities required to practice as a Counsellor with this client group. • To prepare students to be developmentally sensitive and responsive in all aspects of their contact with children, adolescents, young adults and their families and to have an understanding of the potential of every child, adolescent and young adult to reach their full capacity. • To further develop students’ capacity to use clinical supervision to support competent reflexive and ethical practice and professional development.

Teaching and learning strategy

A diverse range of learning and teaching strategies are employed to create an enabling environment for this professional course. This will include the use seminars, facilitated group discussion, case studies, Moodle based resources, case discussion based on experiential exercises and personal tutor support.

Assessment

• A negotiated essay on a related topic • Case studies

Counselling Children, Young People and Families

Learning outcomes

The general learning outcomes of the course are:

• To demonstrate understanding of and capacity to utilise psychodynamic theories of human development, with a specific focus on child, adolescent and young adult development and the family as a group. • To work and communicate therapeutically with children, adolescents and young adults and their families. • To recognise common mental health problems in children, adolescents and young adults and to know when it is appropriate to refer to other specialist provision. • To use psychodynamic theory to assess and make recommendations to families and other professionals. • To understand the importance of entering into an age appropriate contract with each individual child, adolescent and young adult. • To monitor outcomes and use outcomes to inform practice. • To create a blend of knowledge, practical experience and relevance. • To understand and apply legal and ethical frameworks in practice with children young adults and families. • To recognise and understand child protection and vulnerable adult issues and apply the relevant legislation and procedures where appropriate. • To be confident in working with other professionals in a variety of common settings and contexts. • To be aware of the impact of social, cultural and religious influences on children and you and of the expectations of families and communities. • To understand their duties and responsibilities around the collection and storage of data. • To reflect on personal growth and development and to use supervision and personal therapy to support that growth and development.