Introduction to Children and Young People Counselling Skills

Introduction to Child Counselling Skills

4 Fridays in 2025 (in person)

6th and 20th of June

4th and 18th of July

The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England 2023 report found that more than 20% of 8 to 16 year olds had a probable mental disorder in 2023. Among 17 to 19 year olds, the proportion rose to over 23%.

The Ellesmere Introduction to Counselling Skills for children and young people is designed to give learners an introduction and some underpinning knowledge for working with children and young people and aims to provide confidence in general working practices from the start.

Over four days this course gives you an opportunity to:

• learn theories and techniques used by professional counsellors

• build communication skills, self-awareness and creative strategies for working with children and young people

• explore childhood development and the influences on mental health

• explore effective mental health interventions, such as building relationships and developing skills to actively listen

• learn from real-world examples of working with children and young people with a range of mental health needs

• engage in personal reflection, discuss with peers and share ideas, resources and suggestions to better help the young people in your care

• each day, you’ll have the opportunity to consolidate your learning through reflective activities that will form part of your final assessment. In addition, you’ll write an assignment.

• by the end, you’ll have the skills and confidence to support children and young people with their mental health.

The BACP now requires that students who would like to work with children and adolescents engage in additional training if the course they attend does not specialise in this area.

Please note that this four-day CPD does not qualify you as a children’s counsellor but does provide an experience as to whether you would like to train and to specialise in this area.

Course Outline

Using the BACP training curriculum as a guideline, the four days will cover the following elements:

• Child Protection and Safeguarding
• Child and adolescent development and transitions
• Communication with children and young people
• Mental health of children and young people
• Making the best use of professional support networks
• Legislation relating to capacity and informed consent
• An overview of legislation relating to mental health, education and training
• The importance of play for all aspects of social, cognitive and emotional development
• Language, attitudes, behaviours and interests in relation to age and developmental stage

Trainer - Tracey Rees 

Hi, I’m Tracey. I’m a former teacher, qualified and accredited counsellor, qualified psychotherapist, wife, mum, step-mum and granny.

As a teacher in an over-subscribed school where, as OFSTED notes, ‘the proportion of pupils deemed disadvantaged … is well above average’ I began to feel disillusioned around the National Curriculum, what we were teaching children and why. There was an increasing number of children experiencing emotional dysregulation, violence at home, attachment issues and mental health concerns. I felt passionate about supporting these children with more than their reading, writing, maths and ‘academic’ knowledge. Whilst the school were supportive, to an extent, their priority was the academic side of life and there was a reluctance to spend time and money teaching me ways to nurture and support the emotional wellbeing of the children.

It fell upon me to educate myself and I undertook a four-year Diploma in Transactional Analysis and Integrative Psychotherapy. Whilst this was not child focussed, I knew it would give me skills and knowledge to move forward. The course was over weekends and so I taught each day and spent weekends training, assignment writing, fulfilling my clinical hours obligations and somehow fitting in the other roles of mum, wife etc.

I absolutely loved it (except maybe the assignment writing!).

After a few frustrating years of feeling handcuffed to the curriculum, I left mainstream education to work in a Pupil Referral Unit (PRU). Their aim was to help and support pupils with their social, emotional and mental health needs to fulfil their individual potential and recognise that they matter, are important and belong. An ethos I strongly believed and believe in.

As I qualified and began to build up a private practice, I recognised that therapy was where my heart truly lay. I made an appointment to see the headteacher, resigned and offered to work with them as a therapist for the children – she accepted both remits! I still work there as a therapist after 3 years.

I also work with three other local schools, offering therapy to their children.

My private practice has grown incredibly and remains young people centred, with many of my clients being below 18 years old. I remain passionate about working with these young people.

I have completed a Level 7 Post-Qualifying Diploma in CYP, where I undertook a two-year infant observation, attended clinical working groups and covered an array of theories and modalities. It was an incredibly rich experience.

I have also recently completed a Level 6 Supervisors course with Place2Be.

Young people and their future are at the heart of all that I do. I am passionate about supporting them through the difficulties they face, the experiences that have shaped them and the life they can create. I strongly believe that the more we can guide, educate and support our young people, the better the world will be for them (and us!).

Please note this course is non refundable - inline with ECPT's booking and cancelation policy