Course pathways for working with children, young people and families
Find out how studying our courses can help you along your chosen career path
If you work or wish to work with children, young people and families, we are sure to have the course for you. All our courses in this area draw on systemic, psychoanalytic and psychological theories to prepare you for working in what can be a demanding and emotional environment.
Our course pathways are a guide, and students join them at different points based on their experience. Progression to the next course level is not automatic and may require additional experience or learning.
Explore the pathways below by selecting your initial level of study
- Pre-introductory
- Introductory
- Applied and pre-clinical
- Clinical and qualifying
- Post qualification and research
Pre-introductory course
Familiarise yourself with the concepts and topics around working with children, young people and families.
- CPD certificate
Developing a diverse child and adolescent workforce (CPD64)
Introductory course
Our introductory courses are the perfect fit if you are just starting out with working with children, young people and families and wish to learn more.
- Graduate diplomaEligible for Student Visa
Emotional care of babies, children, young people and families (EC1)
Applied and pre-clinical courses
We have a variety of applied and pre-clinical courses covering systemic, psychological and psychoanalytic approaches.
Applied and pre-clinical systemic courses
Start with our foundation course on systemic approaches before moving onto our intermediate course.
- Graduate certificateEligible for Student Visa
Systemic approaches to working with individuals, families and organisations (D4F, foundation)
- Postgraduate certificateEligible for Student Visa
Systemic approaches to working with individuals, families and organisations (D4I, intermediate)
Applied and pre-clinical psychological therapies
Explore the fundamental aspects of child, adolescent and family mental healthcare and practice, informed by psychodynamic, systemic and child development theories.
- Postgraduate certificate
Child, adolescent and family mental wellbeing: multidisciplinary practice (ED24, online)
If you would like to progress onto a systemic learning path, your next step could be our intermediate systemic approach course
Applied and pre-clinical psychoanalytic courses
- Master’sEligible for Student Visa
Psychoanalytic studies (M16)
If you wish to progress onto our qualifying course M80 after studying Psychoanalytic studies (M16), you will also need to complete our course, Work discussion for graduates of psychoanalytic observational studies (CPD98).
Alternatively, our M7 observational courses offer both a certificate or diploma as a route you can take.
- Master’sEligible for Student Visa
Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7, daytime)
- Master’s
Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7, evening)
- Master’s
Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7, Saturday)
- Master’s
Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7B, Birmingham)
- Master’s
Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7F, Florence)
- Master’s
Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7K, Bristol)
- Master’s
Perinatal, child, adolescent and family work: a psychoanalytic observational approach (M7N, Belfast)
After studying for a certification on one of our M7 observational courses, if you wish to pursue a psychological therapy approach to your learning, you can also apply to our course, Psychological therapies with children, young people and families (M34).
Clinical and qualifying courses
We offer a range of clinical and qualifying courses covering systemic, psychological and psychoanalytic approaches.
Clinical and qualifying systemic courses
Extend your understanding of theoretical concepts in systemic psychotherapy, gain a professional qualification accredited by the Association of Family Therapy (AFT) and fully develop your clinical skills as a systemic family therapist.
- Master’sEligible for Student Visa
Systemic psychotherapy (M6)
Clinical and qualifying psychological therapies
Work therapeutically with children, young people and families or qualify as an educational psychologist.
- Master’sEligible for Student Visa
Psychological therapies with children, young people and families (M34)
- Professional doctorateEligible for Student Visa
Child, community and educational psychology (M4)
Clinical and qualifying psychoanalytic courses
Qualify as a child and adolescent psychotherapist.
- Professional doctorateEligible for Student Visa
Child and adolescent psychoanalytic psychotherapy (M80)
Post-qualification and research courses
Our post-qualification and doctoral courses.
Study our doctorate in advanced practice and research in systemic psychotherapy or obtain a qualification to become a supervisor.
- Trust certificate
Family and systemic psychotherapy supervision (M21)
- Professional doctorate
Advanced practice and research: systemic psychotherapy (M10)