Postgraduate Diploma in Child and Adolesent Counselling

Programme

First Year

Theory

  • Child Developmental Psychology:

    • In this module we explore the many theories and ideas around child development from conception to eighteen years. We look at the different areas of development; physical, intellectual, language, emotional, social and spiritual. We facilitate the learning through discussion, reading, seminars, workshops and play. This is a provocative area of work and we spend considerable time processing our own feelings and experiences in relation to the subject.

    Pregnancy
    Living with the unknown. Theories around conception, gestation, Beginnings of life. Influences.
    Birth
    Theories around birth and birth trauma. The newborn child. Moving into their new physical identity.
    First 18 months
    Relationships, attachment, bonding. Towards separation and independence. Play.
    From 18 months - 9 years
    Steps into the world, finding own voice, meeting the shadow, understanding their world; practically and imaginatively. Relationships, identity and murmurings of puberty.
    From 10 years – 18 years
    Adolescence, Let’s talk hormones, and bodily fluids. Changing relationships. Who am I?
  • Attachment Theory
  • Neuroscience

Five-day residential course on Play Therapy. Topics covered - Theory of Play Therapy: Sand Play using non-directive skills, therapeutic story telling, puppetry, music, art and clay.

Practical placements

Toddler Observation (30 hours)

Second Year

Theory

  • Child Psychiatry, Child Mental Health:
  • Communication Disorders
  • Learning Disorders
  • Motor Skills Disorders
  • Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Autism, Asperger’s Disorder
  • Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
  • Conduct Disorder
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders
  • Mutism
  • Separation Anxiety Disorder
  • Working with children diagnosed with some of the following disorders: Autism, Asperger’s, ADHD, Learning Disorders
  • Child bereavement and loss
  • Working with sexually abused children and children who experience violence
  • Safeguarding Children/Child Protection issues (exam)
  • Working with children from diverse cultural backgrounds

Practical Placement

Clinical Placement (200 hours)