Across the UK, demand for child and adolescent support is rising in schools, community services, and family settings. The Child Counselling and Psychology Diploma builds practical capability for early identification and intervention, helping you understand children’s needs, strengthen resilience, and respond ethically to complex presentations across diverse contexts.

Based on informative modules, you’ll develop core counselling skills, apply strategies in home and school environments, and use supervision effectively. You’ll explore child psychology, social–emotional and cognitive development, personality and moral growth, and the impacts of separation, loss, and attachment difficulties. You’ll also learn to recognise neglect, plan interventions, and coordinate treatment and support.

This CPD Accredited, Industry Standard qualification prepares you to contribute confidently in youth services, educational settings, and family support roles, or progress to advanced study. By completion, you’ll be ready to build rapport, communicate sensitively with children and carers, and deliver safe, evidence-informed support that promotes healthy development and wellbeing.

Learning Outcomes

• Define stress and mental health in healthcare contexts.
  
• Recognise symptoms and effects of acute and chronic stress.
  
• Apply evidence-based stress management and resilience techniques.
  
• Identify common mental health disorders in patients and staff.
  
• Use communication, empathy, and listening to support patient wellbeing.
  
• Implement crisis management strategies, including suicide risk assessment.
  
• Develop self-care and burnout prevention plans as a healthcare provider.
  
• Promote organisational wellbeing strategies for safer healthcare environments.

Who Is This Course For?

• Nurses, doctors, and frontline healthcare professionals.
  
• Healthcare assistants and allied health staff managing stress.
  
• Supervisors and managers in healthcare settings.
  
• HR professionals supporting staff wellbeing in medical environments.
  
• Students preparing for careers in healthcare professions.

Career Path & UK Salary Ranges

• Healthcare Assistant: £21,000 – £28,000
  
• Registered Nurse: £26,000 – £38,000
  
• Mental Health Nurse: £28,000 – £40,000
  
• Occupational Health Advisor: £30,000 – £45,000
  
• Healthcare Supervisor / Team Leader: £32,000 – £48,000
  
• Wellbeing Coordinator (Healthcare): £28,000 – £40,000

Description

• Module 01: Introduction to Child Counselling
  Explore the foundations of child counselling, understanding its importance, goals, and methods in supporting children’s emotional, behavioural, and psychological wellbeing across diverse settings.
• Module 02: Effective Counselling Strategies for Counsellors
  Learn evidence-based counselling strategies, including play therapy and behavioural approaches, designed to equip counsellors with practical techniques for guiding children through emotional challenges.
• Module 03: Counselling Children and Adolescents in Home and School
  Understand counselling methods tailored to home and school contexts, supporting children and adolescents through communication, collaboration, and targeted interventions.
• Module 04: Counselling Skills for Practical Application and Supervision
  Develop key counselling skills for practice and supervision, focusing on reflective techniques, professional development, and effective client interactions in child counselling.
• Module 05: Child Psychology
  Study the principles of child psychology, exploring developmental milestones, cognitive processes, and emotional growth essential for understanding child behaviour and counselling needs.
• Module 06: Social and Emotional Development
  Examine the stages of social and emotional development, understanding how relationships, family, and environment shape children’s wellbeing and resilience.
• Module 07: Interventions, Treatment and Support
  Explore therapeutic interventions, treatment options, and support strategies to address emotional and behavioural issues in children, ensuring holistic care and positive outcomes.
• Module 08: Factors that Influence Development
  Learn how genetics, environment, culture, and family dynamics influence a child’s physical, emotional, and psychological development throughout different life stages.
• Module 09: Cognitive Development
  Understand cognitive development theories, focusing on how children learn, think, and process information, with applications in counselling and educational support.
• Module 10: Personality and Intellectual Development of Children
  Examine how personality traits and intellectual abilities develop in children, considering psychological theories and their implications for counselling practice.
• Module 11: Understanding Moral Development
  Explore moral development theories, understanding how children form values, ethics, and decision-making skills influenced by social, cultural, and family factors.
• Module 12: Impacts of Separation and Loss on Attachment
  Understand how separation, grief, and loss affect attachment styles in children, developing strategies to provide effective emotional and therapeutic support.
• Module 13: Attachment Disorder
  Study attachment disorders, their causes, symptoms, and counselling approaches, equipping learners to support children with disrupted attachment relationships.
• Module 14: Signs of Child Neglect
  Learn to recognise signs of child neglect, understanding its impact on wellbeing and development, and applying safeguarding procedures within counselling contexts.

FAQs

1. What qualifications do I need to be a child counsellor?
   To become a child counsellor, you typically need a Level 3 or Level 4 Diploma in Counselling, alongside specialised training in child psychology, play therapy, or safeguarding. Practical experience with children and CPD-accredited courses are also essential for gaining competence and credibility in supporting young clients effectively.
2. What is a diploma in child psychology?
   A diploma in child psychology is a professional qualification that provides foundational knowledge of child development, behavioural patterns, emotional wellbeing, and therapeutic techniques. It equips learners to understand children’s mental health needs and supports careers in counselling, educational psychology, social work, and other child-focused services.
3. Can I be a child therapist without a degree?
   Yes, you can start working as a child therapist in assistant or support roles without a degree by completing accredited diplomas and vocational counselling courses. However, to practice independently or become fully licensed, higher-level qualifications or a degree in psychology, counselling, or psychotherapy is usually required.
4. What is the difference between a child psychologist and a child counsellor?
   A child psychologist typically holds a degree in psychology and focuses on diagnosing and treating psychological conditions, often using evidence-based assessments. A child counsellor provides emotional support, guidance, and therapeutic interventions, usually through diplomas or specialised training, without necessarily diagnosing clinical disorders. Both roles aim to improve child wellbeing.
5. What is the quickest path to becoming a therapist?
   The quickest route is to complete an accredited counselling or mental health diploma, gain supervised practical experience, and pursue specialised short courses in therapy techniques. Online or intensive programmes can accelerate study time, but independent licensure or registration with professional bodies may still require additional hours or higher qualifications.
6. What is the highest paying job in child psychology?
   The highest paying roles in child psychology are consultant child psychologists, clinical psychologists specialising in child mental health, and senior educational psychologists. Private practice, senior NHS positions, and specialist therapeutic roles also offer top earning potential, reflecting advanced qualifications, experience, and clinical expertise.
7. How much does a child counsellor earn in the UK?
   In the UK, child counsellors typically earn between £22,000 and £35,000 per year, depending on experience, employer, and location. Private practice or senior roles can earn more, especially with specialisations like play therapy, trauma counselling, or educational psychology.
8. What type of counsellor gets paid the most?
   Counsellors in private practice, specialised clinical therapy, trauma or addiction counselling, corporate coaching, and psychotherapy often earn the highest salaries. Earnings depend on qualifications, client base, experience, and location, with private practice offering the most flexibility and earning potential for experienced professionals.
9. Are counsellors in demand in the UK?
   Yes, counsellors are in high demand in the UK due to increasing mental health awareness, NHS staffing needs, and workplace wellbeing initiatives. Both general and specialised counsellors, including child and adolescent therapists, are sought after across healthcare, education, and private sectors.
10. How much does a child psychologist make in the NHS?
    Child psychologists in the NHS earn between £38,000 and £50,000 annually at mid-career levels, depending on experience and Banding. Senior specialist roles or consultant positions can exceed £60,000 per year, with additional benefits such as pension contributions, holiday allowances, and flexible working arrangements.