Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents

This module aims to give learners a solid foundation in the theoretical and clinical underpinnings of integrative psychotherapy. It includes consideration of content such as the:

• Goals of child therapy
• Therapeutic relationship with children, adolescents and their caregivers
• Attributes and skills of child therapists
• Legal and regulatory context of child therapy
• Process of psychotherapy with children and adolescents

Child and Adolescent Development

This module aims to provide learners with a solid foundation in developmental considerations and theories relevant to child therapy. Learners will explore the work of key theorists, including Piaget, Kohlberg, Bowlby, Freud, Vygotsky, Bronfenbrenner, Lerner and Sameroff. Key developmental issues of stability-change, nature-nurture and continuity-discontinuity are examined. Attachment theory and its impact on the therapeutic process are also discussed. In addition, learners will consider issues of developmental trauma and early life stressors, alongside key processes within the developmental psychopathology literature.

CBT with Children and Adolescents

In this module, learners will engage in formal didactic lectures, skills practice, group discussion, reflective exercises and experiential exercises related to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with children and adolescents. This will include exploration of the theoretical and clinical underpinnings of Cognitive Therapy (CT) and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT), alongside consideration of case formulation. Learners will become familiar with the CBT model, the therapeutic process and alliance in CBT. They will focus on developing skills to identify and challenge negative automatic thoughts and irrational beliefs. The module is designed to help learners facilitate psychological understanding of CBT concepts with younger clients and to support change and acceptance with children and adolescents.

Therapeutic Use of Play, Creative Media and Expressive Arts

Malchiodi (2005, p. 8) argues that expressive and creative methods add a unique dimension to therapy, offering qualities not typically found in verbal approaches. When working with younger children and some adolescents, it is important to have multiple ways of engaging them. Not all young clients will have the same emotional vocabulary as adults seeking therapy. Engaging through play, creativity and expressive arts allows therapeutic work to occur through a medium that is comfortable for younger clients. Learners will engage in teaching and learning related to theoretical underpinnings of play, creative media and expressive arts in therapy. Projection and the use of metaphor and creative methods, including art, sand-tray work, and sensory and embodiment activities, will be used.

Clinical Skills for Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy

In this module, learners will engage in teaching related to the necessary clinical skills for work with children and adolescents. The module covers topics such as clinical skills for working with minors, confidentiality in the child and adolescent context, engaging effectively with parents and caregivers, and management of multiple stakeholder goals. The module is highly experiential, with inputs covering a range of areas, including ethics, boundary management, integration of theory and practice, case management and therapist development. Kagan’s Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR) is used to facilitate ongoing therapist development.

Trauma-Informed Therapy with Children and Adolescents

This module aims to enhance learners’ understanding of trauma as it applies to younger children. Children or adolescents who have experienced trauma are at greater risk of developing a range of mental health problems (such as depression and anxiety), sleep disorders and substance use disorders (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2014). Learners will consider the impact of trauma on the biological, psychological and social domains. A child’s or adolescent’s experience with trauma can shape the manner in which they approach therapy and the psychotherapist.

Learners will also gain an appreciation of the relevance and application of trauma-informed therapy to youth mental health and adolescent substance use, as well as other sectors where there is a high incidence of trauma. Definitions of trauma will be presented, and learners will engage in teaching and learning relevant to trauma-informed philosophy and principles, the impact of trauma and implications for therapy.

Clinical Practice and Development

This module encourages learners to engage in evaluative case-related, discussion-based learning, which highlights elements of dialogue, critical discovery and community-based scholarly activity to explore and develop clinical placement, counselling and psychotherapy skills and practice as they relate to work with children and adolescents. The development of reflective practice is integral to this module, as is a deepening of knowledge, skills and competencies related to the practice of child and adolescent counselling and psychotherapy. Learners will engage in teaching and learning relevant to evidence-based practice, integrative assessment, ethical considerations and the use of self. Group supervision is integral to the module delivery, and consideration of case work in the group will be central.