Home Courses Psychology and Counselling Introduction to Counselling Young People
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A one week short course in counselling

5 days
Bishop Otter Campus (Chichester)

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positivity that the course has developed your knowledge for the future

National Student Survey 2024

1st

in Counselling for teaching on my course

National Student Survey 2024

4th

in the UK for overall average positivity for Counselling

National Student Survey 2024

100%

positivity that the course has developed your knowledge for the future

National Student Survey 2024

Overview

The theoretical framework of the course is based on a humanistic philosophy which aims to create a holistic experience for students.

Students’ competence and understanding in the use of counselling skills for working with Children and Young People is developed through their active participation and tutor-led skills demonstrations.

The eight subject areas of competency in the Introduction to Counselling Young People module meet BACP’s requirements and are mapped to the BACP learning outcomes. These areas of competency and outcomes are required for students wishing to undertake practice hours with young people as part of their core adult training course and make up the curriculum.

The subject areas are:

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

Learning Outcomes

The course module content and curriculum are related to the learning outcomes as set out by BACP and mapped across eight subject areas.

At the end of the BACP Stage 1 (Introduction) successful students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and professional principles and guidelines that underpin the content of the Introduction to Counselling Young People (C1).
  2. Evidence the ability to identify and critically appraise ethical conflicts in relation to confidentiality, information sharing, capacity and consent (C1&2).
  3. Demonstrate an understanding of how to identify and respond appropriately to child protection and safeguarding concerns (C3&5).
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of child and adolescent development and transitions and the impact on the client, their presentation in counselling and any implications for therapeutic work (C3&8).
  5. Evidence knowledge of the different ways young people communicate and express themselves depending on their age and developmental stage (C3,4&5).
  6. Demonstrate the skills required to communicate with and engage clients of different ages and developmental stages (C3,4&6).
  7. Demonstrate the skills required to be able to contract, establish and agree therapeutic focus/goals for counselling with young people, and how to bring the work to a close (C5,7&6).
  8. Evidence the ability to identify and assess potential risk, and know how to act if a young person is at risk (C1,2&6).
  9. Demonstrate an understanding of how mental health difficulties can emerge and present in young people (C7&8).

Specific transferable skills

  • Can practise interpersonal skills with a greater knowledge of the concepts and principles of counselling skills with young people aged 11-18 years.
  • This will incorporate communication in one-to-one and group situations, both personal and professional.
  • Will be able to communicate accurately and reliably with structured and coherent arguments for their rationale.
  • Will be able to utilise information and communication technology skills.
  • Will have insight and understanding of personal values and their inner adolescent.
  • Can communicate effectively incorporating humanistic philosophy and core conditions enhancing one-to-one and group situations.
  • Can demonstrate awareness of ethical issues in practice with enhanced insight to personal beliefs and values.

Course Dates

The course dates for 2025 are as follows:

  • Monday 23rd June 2025
  • Tuesday 24th June 2025
  • Thursday 26th June 2025
  • Monday 30th June 2025
  • Tuesday 1st July 2025

How You Will Be Taught

Taught sessions over five days include some informal written assessments which will be underpinned by theories of psychological learning, child development and reflexivity (e.g. Gibbs Reflective Cycle, 1988).

Some sessions include reflective and creative activities. A minimum of two online modules through Mind Ed need to be completed, as well as the opportunity to practice specific communication skills with peers on the course.

The final assessment is a portfolio of the five days session and reflective accounts.

Facilities

Use University resources, equipment and study spaces

Careers

Where you could go after your studies

You can apply for progression onto the BA (Hons) Humanistic Counselling once you complete this Certificate.

Students with additional qualifications/credit can progress from Certificate level to degree level in five years. The BA (Hons) in Humanistic Counselling is also an excellent development for students already holding a Diploma in Counselling.

Bud Hagon

BA (Hons) Humanistic Counselling graduate and Counselling Lead for the Young People’s Shop.
I couldn’t effectively perform my current role without the skills and knowledge gained through my degree. Being a qualified counsellor equips me with a deep understanding of the counselling process, enabling me to support both clients and counsellors as they progress in their professional journeys. I absolutely loved the course itself and found the modules so interesting. It’s a journey of self-discovery, and the things I learnt along the way have shaped me as a person. The course tutors were approachable and supportive. I highly recommend this course to anyone considering becoming a counsellor.

Cathy Burnard

BA (Hons) Humanistic Counselling graduate and CEO of the Young People’s Shop.
The course gave me the confidence to step into a leadership role as a CEO, as well as the skills needed to run my private practice. I loved the strong sense of community at the university. The support I received was invaluable, both emotionally, as counselling can be a challenging field to study, and academically. It’s not an easy course by any means, but it was the best decision I ever made. I’ve learned so much about myself and can confidently say that studying counselling at the University of Chichester has made me a better person, both professionally and personally.

Student

BA (Hons) Humanistic Counselling
Chichester came highly recommended for this course. It is the only course I have ever participated in my lifetime that has changed my life and given me a direct route into my chosen career, it has essentially created that career for me. I am working in a private counselling practice, and this course has not only given me the skills to be successful and additionally the confidence and courage to step out of employment into self employment. I think the changes people have seen in me personally, as well as the success in my new career is the biggest recommendation that can me made.

Entry Requirements

This first stage of the training curriculum gives counsellors the competencies required to begin working with young people in a placement setting.

 

The Introduction to Counselling Young People is for:

 

  • Trainee counsellors on adult-focused, counselling/psychotherapy core training courses who wish to undertake some of their practice hours in a placement working with young people.
  • Counsellors already qualified to work with adults who want to extend their scope of practice to counselling young people and work towards a formal award in Counselling Young People.

Typical entry requirements are:

  • Minimum of diploma level 4 [Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) England, Wales and Northern Ireland] and level 7 [The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Scotland] counselling/psychotherapy qualification or equivalent, to include a minimum of 100 hours supervised counselling/psychotherapy practice in line with recognised practitioner training.

OR:

  • Currently studying for a counselling/ psychotherapy qualification (course requirements as above), and has completed a substantial (20 hours) number of counselling practice hours with individual adults and has been assessed as suitable for working with young people.
  • BACP Student or BACP Registered Member, or equivalent member of a professional body who adheres to an ethical framework/code of practice.

Course Costs

Course Fees 2025

UK fee
£1,422
Full 15 credit course cost

For further details about fees, please see our Tuition Fee page.

Apply

To apply, please express your interest to counsellingadmin@chi.ac.uk.

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