Diploma in Higher Education: Counselling Children & Young People

Starting Friday 7th January 2011

Course Introduction

The Diploma in Higher Education Counselling Children & Young People qualifies people to work as counsellors with special skills in counselling children & young people. The course is Validated by Middlesex University and COSCA has awarded Initial Validation. The full course runs over four years with the first year leading to a COSCA Certificate in Counselling Skills: Children & Young People, allowing people to work with children & young people using counselling skills. Students may enter the course at year 1 or year 2. Years 2, 3 and 4 culminate in the full Diploma qualification.

The programme aims to:

  • Provide access to counselling training for students with suitable experience, qualifications and knowledge.
  • Provides in-depth knowledge of the theory and practice of psychodynamic counselling in working with children & young people.
  • Encourage students to integrate theory with practice.
  • Enable each student to develop their own philosophy and ways of counselling using a psychodynamic approach that is appropriate for the developmental stage of the child/young person being counselled.
  • Develop self-awareness and insight that reflect a psychodynamic approach.
  • Provide a knowledge base of other theoretical approaches and creative therapies as they apply to work with children & young people.
  • Appreciate diversity and culture.
  • Explain the dynamics of different systems and environments on lives of children & young people.
  • Provide appropriate knowledge of legal and ethical practice.
  • Encourage familiarity with a wide range of appropriate and contemporary counselling practice.
  • Prepare students to work in a variety of professional settings.
  • Produce a practitioner that is able to practice professionally and who understands the need for ongoing supervision in their professional role.

Additional Information

The first two years are made up of 400 hours training and 40 hours of personal therapy. The final year includes 150 counselling placement hours and 25 supervision hours.

Core Tutors: 

Course Dates

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Friday 12th November 2010

INTERVIEWS: November - to be confirmed

This course is due to start in January 2011. Full course dates for year 1 here and for year 2 here. Please note these dates are in the process of being revised.

Venue: Simpson House

Cost: The course dee is £3,125 per year with an initial deposit of £250. The remainder of the fee can be paid in 24 monthly installments of £250. Please note that there are additional expenses which include personal therapy (minimum 40 hours) and supervision for the placement (approximately 25 sessions).

Simpson House 

52 Queen Street 

Edinburgh 

EH2 3NS 

Charity No: SC011353