Programme summary for MA Counselling Children in Schools

About the programme

There is a clear shortage of counselling training which specialises in work with children. Recent government initiatives indicate a commitment to early therapeutic intervention in schools and the counselling and psychotherapy workforce needs to be ready for the increased demand for properly qualified therapists.

For many years The Place2Be has been delivering a package of mental health services to primary schools which includes one to one and group therapy. In addition the Place2Be supports the mental health of the school by offering support to all members of the school community. This work is specialised and at the moment there is no qualification which prepares therapists for this role. Based on The Place2Be core theoretical model this Diploma and Masters will train people to be competent therapists who can also enable schools to create mentally healthy environments for all children.

The clinical staff at The Place2Be come from a broad range of theoretical backgrounds. Over the years this breadth of experience has shaped how we deliver the service in schools. The service in turn has enabled a therapeutic model to evolve which reflects the diversity of the organisation but is also something substantial in its own right.

The core elements of The Place2Be can be described under four headings: Relationship; Self awareness; Play and Change. The quality of the therapeutic Relationship is one of the most accurate predictor of outcomes. A safe and helpful therapeutic relationship depends on a high level of Self awareness from the therapist. Play is the language of the child and a vital part of child development. The therapist needs to be playful in order to properly hear what the child wants to express. It is a combination of these three elements that affect the fourth element: positive Change for the child.

These four elements provide a framework of reference for every stage of the therapeutic process. The Place2Be core model uses this framework to integrate ideas and techniques from a variety of approaches. It acknowledges the history and influence of psychodynamic thinking, as well as embracing systemic theory and the core conditions of the person centred approach. At the centre of The Place2be core model is an understanding of attachment theory and developments in this field and the field of neurobiology.

The Place2Be works with children and adults from a broad range of social, racial and cultural backgrounds and acknowledges the need to be flexible in its approach ensuring that each therapeutic contract or referral respects the unique needs of every client. The Place2Be Core model’s focus is on the effective common factors of different theoretical models rather than on the different techniques used in any given intervention. The Place2Be’s four elements reflect these common factors.

Programme structure

Below is a table outlining the programme structure All three modules are 60 Level M double modules. Students complete both Counselling modules to achieve the award of Postgraduate Diploma. These modules will be delivered by the Place2Be staff at The Place2Be. The P/g Diploma has one intake in September. The Research Dissertation module will be taught by UEL staff, with one intake in February.

Year	Module	Credit
1	Counselling Children in Schools 1: Self, Skills and Theory	60 Level M
2	Counselling Children in Schools 2: Application and Integration	60 Level M
3	Counselling and Psychotherapy: Research	60 Level M

The Programme is part time. The Post Graduate Diploma is one full day placement and one evening's tuition per week with a residential weekend three times per year It includes 450 hours of contact time (including 50 hours guided learning) and a one day placement in a The Place2Be school. Students will complete 150 supervised clinical hours and 50 hours of work based learning whist on placement. The Masters involves a weekly study seminar and case discussions. It also requires students to be on placement in a school. NB It is strongly recommended that students undergo one to one therapy whilst in training. As part of the assessment of modules 1 and 2 students will need to show a commitment to self awareness and describe how their self development activities impact on their counselling work with children. The importance of self awareness for counsellors is outlined in The Place2Be Core Theoretical Model document which can be found at www.theplace2be.org.uk

Career opportunities

The Diploma will qualify graduates to apply for paid employment as a counsellor within The Place2Be and progress through the career structure
The Diploma will qualify graduates to take up paid employment as a counsellor in other multi-agency settings
Diploma graduates will be eligible to work towards individual BACP accreditation.

Support

Regular one to one tutorials
Study support
Library and IT facilities
Programme Committee

Admission

Applicants must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for the Programme

First degree or equivalent professional qualifications and/or experience of working with children that, in the opinion of the selectors is indicative of ability to achieve the standards of the programme
Successful completion of The Place2Be Foundation Programme OR, in exceptional circumstances and after an extended interview process, an equivalent certificate level (or above) counselling training. (Please see the application form for more details)
Willingness to be playful and creative
Willingness to be self reflective and having a commitment to self development
Effective listening skills
Appropriate personal qualities of warmth, genuineness and empathy
Willingness to work in a group
Progression to the third year Masters will depend on successful completion of the first two years
Spoken and written English to a standard appropriate for this level of study

The majority of applicants will hold a first degree which qualifies them for M level study. Applicants who do not hold a first degree but whose life and work experience qualifies them for this programme will need to show that they have the academic skills necessary to study at this advanced level.

All successful applicants will be subject to an enhanced CRB check before they are able to take up a placement in school.