Level 6 Certificate: Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work

This comprehensive program offers a clear framework for qualified Play Therapists, Children and Adolescent Counsellors, Psychotherapists, Social Workers, Social Work Assistants and Foster Carers to undertake Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work. This course will focus on the importance of children and young people having the opportunity to construct a concrete sequential narrative of their history to the present day. You will gain the knowledge and skills to professionally undertake Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work with children and young people, key theories will underpin the process of how to ethically undertake life story work. These therapeutic skills will enable children and young people who are adopted, or in care and are not able to live with their family of origin to gain facts about their history through the safety of creative media. This course will also explore how Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work can support children and young people who are “displaced” due to leaving their country of origin, family and friends to seek safety.

Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work is essential because children and young people who have been adopted or are in the care system often have questions about their earlier life prior to being placed with their new family. For some children they may have moved between one home to another, displaced children have left their homes and communities.  Memories fade and can cause confusion, which can impact their mental health and their ability to feel safe and secure and form positive lasting relationships with carers, family members and friends. This framework is based on the importance of being client centred. Creative Therapeutic Life Story is delivered at an appropriate time for children and young people to understand their story of origin. They are equipped with the knowledge of their history so that they can gain a clear sense of their own identity. This process can provide opportunities to share experiences and feelings with parents and carers and make sense of belonging to both birth and adoptive families.

Designed in consultation with Adoptive Parents, Post Adoption Support Social Worker and Play Therapists who specialise in working with adopted children and young people.

Aim of course

• To understand the purpose of Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work for children/young people who have been adopted or are in long term foster care, or who are displaced children/young people.
• To introduce participants to the history of adoption and the difference between Adoption, Special Guardianship and Foster care.
• To understand displacement and the impact on the developing child/young person.
• To understand why the child’s history is an important aspect of their identity.
• To learn how to approach Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work with children and young people to construct a concrete sequential narrative of the child’s history to the present day.
• To learn when Creative Therapeutic Life Story Work be offered and delivered
• To help children increase their understanding of moves, decisions and experiences in their past.
• To provide opportunity to share experiences and feelings with parents and carers
• To make real a sense of belonging to both family of origin and adoptive families/community.

Modules

• Module 1: History of adoption, Special Guardianship Order (SGO), LAC. Impact of displacement, Communication, Attachment, Observations
• Module 2: Developmental stages, Infant mental health, neurodiversity, Trauma informed practice
• Module 3: Developing relationships, Session planning – beginning the work
• Module 4: Session planning – past and present, future work, reviewing and report writing

Guided Learning Hours: 72

Total Qualification Time: Total 224

Assessments

Three Circle Journal – only seen by lecturer

Portfolio of evidence will consist of:

• 2 Assignments
• Case study
• Student reflective feedback
• Tutor reflective feedback
• Supervision log and report

Qualification requirements

• Clinical Work with two clients
• Clinical Supervision at own cost
• Entry Requirements
• Play Therapists
• Children and Adolescent Counsellors
• Psychotherapists
• Social Workers
• Foster carers
• Additional requirements to work with children and young people
• Enhanced DBS
• ICO registration
• Professional Indemnity and Public Liability Insurance
• Qualification Accreditation

This course is a Tailor-made qualification accredited by Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CpCAB). They are a Professional Independent Organisation who have been accrediting counselling and psychotherapy qualifications for over 30 years.

CPCAB are the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) awarding organisation specialising in counselling and psychotherapy. They are committed to the core values of counselling and high standards in training which focus on practitioner competence. CPCAB in the UK are regulated by The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulations (Ofqual), The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and Qualifications Wales.

• CpCAB provides independent accreditation. We value CpCAB as an independent accrediting body separate from our training organisation, so our learners are assured there is no conflict of interest in the accreditation of our courses.
• CpCAB is the leading psychological and counselling accrediting body in the UK and overseas.
• CpCAB carries out quality assurance when accrediting qualifications, this includes us having appropriately qualified teaching professionals to deliver our qualification.
• CpCAB have a qualified accrediting team who have extensive knowledge and experience to undertake assessments of psychological and counselling qualifications.

The only awarding organisation run by Counsellors for counsellors, their ethos aligns with the School of Play and Creative Therapies completely.

Duration of the course: 8 Taught days, plus Quarterly Group tutorials: 2 hours

1 year to complete course requirements

Cost: £1330.00 (includes Student qualification registration fee £213.00 plus VAT, pending CpCAB approval)

Payment plans are available: Deposit, followed by 5 monthly payments