Level 6 Certificate: Relational Play and Creative Therapy for Young People – Reading

Relational Play and Creative Therapy for Young People is a Level 6 accredited qualification designed for qualified counsellors, psychotherapists, play therapists and allied professionals seeking to develop specialist therapeutic skills for working relationally, creatively and ethically with adolescents and young people.

Grounded in contemporary humanistic, trauma-informed and neurodiversity-affirming practice, this qualification equips practitioners with the specialist knowledge, skills and confidence required to work effectively with young people aged 12–18 years, and up to 25 years for care leavers and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

The programme recognises that therapeutic work with adolescents and young people requires a distinct and developmentally responsive approach. Particular attention is given to adolescent development, attachment, identity formation, emotional regulation, trauma, neurodiversity, and the complex relational and systemic challenges that can impact young people’s emotional wellbeing.

The course integrates attachment theory, relational practice, creative therapeutic interventions and the therapeutic use of self, enabling practitioners to build meaningful therapeutic relationships with young people across a range of educational, community, health and therapeutic settings.

Underpinned by a humanistic, relational and trauma-informed philosophy, the programme incorporates both non-directive, client-led approaches and directive therapeutic interventions. Learners will critically explore a range of theoretical perspectives, including attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, psychodynamic theory, transactional analysis and humanistic psychology, drawing upon the work of Carl Rogers, John Bowlby, Daniel Siegel, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Stephen Karpman and Abraham Maslow. Emphasis is placed on translating theory into effective clinical practice with adolescents, young people, care-experienced young people and those with additional developmental and relational needs.

A particular focus is placed on inclusive and neurodiversity-affirming practice, supporting practitioners to work ethically and responsively with care-experienced young people, neurodivergent young people, and those presenting with complex emotional and behavioural needs. The programme supports practitioners to develop inclusive, responsive and ethically grounded approaches that promote safety, engagement and meaningful therapeutic change.

Delivered over seven taught days and supported by 60 clinical practice hours, the qualification combines academic learning, reflective practice and clinical application. Learners also benefit from termly online tutorials and ongoing tutor support throughout the 12-month programme.

Course requirements:

• Attendance at all 7 training days (Day 1 delivered online)
• Termly online tutorial sessions over a 12-month period
• Completion of reflective journal, 2,000-word assignment, and 3,000-word case study
• Clinical supervision is a requirement of the course (not included in fees)

Entry requirements:

This qualification is designed for qualified counsellors, psychotherapists, play therapists and allied professionals who wish to develop specialist relational and creative therapeutic practice with adolescents and young people.

All applicants must hold:

• Professional insurance
• ICO registration
• Membership of a recognised professional body (e.g. BACP or equivalent)
• Enhanced DBS certificate

Accreditation:

This Tailor-made qualification is externally accredited by Counselling and Psychotherapy Central Awarding Body (CpCAB) who have been externally accrediting counselling and psychotherapy qualifications for over 30 years.

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 external 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 Post Qualifying Qualifications.
• 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.

All refreshments and lunch are included in the course fee.

Course Cost: £1,180 (inclusive of CpCAB student registration fee).

Payment plans are available. For further information contact: [email protected]