Unit information: Therapeutic Work with Children in 2019/20

Unit name	Therapeutic Work with Children
Unit code	SPOL30035
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Will Turner
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit looks at younger childrens emotional development, and the kind of services, counselling, therapy and direct work available to help those children who develop emotional and behavioural problems in childhood. It considers current and historical theories of how such problems develop, research from UK & USA, and looks at different methods of helping and supporting such children. There is some teaching input from practitioners as well as researchers and lecturers from within the school.

The unit aims to:

• Acquaint students with major theoretical approaches relating to the emotional development of children & young people;
• Introduce the structure of services for children with emotional and behavioural problems;
• Provide students with an increased understanding of a selection of therapeutic models used in work with children & young people.

Students are expected to gain knowledge in these areas, and to develop a critical approach to the analysis of current research and theoretical issues.

Students who successfully complete the unit will be more aware of the emotional and social difficulties which children & young persons may experience; they will be better equipped to recognise such difficulties and understand the theoretical models and methods by which these may be addressed and the relevant research; finally, they will be better able to consider whether further professional training in therapeutic work with young people is a suitable career option for them.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the unit will be more aware of the emotional and social difficulties which children & young persons may experience; they will be better equipped to recognise such difficulties and understand the theoretical models and methods by which these may be addressed and the relevant research; finally, they will be better able to consider whether further professional training in therapeutic work with young people is a suitable career option for them.

Teaching Information

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, student presentations and guided individual study.

Assessment Information

Reflective essay (1000 words) (25%)

Essay (2000 words) (75%)

Reading and References

• Axline, V. (1964) Dibs in Search of Self. Aylesbury: Harmondsworth.

• Barwick, N. (2000) Clinical Counselling in Schools. London: Routledge.

• Carr, A. (2004). The handbook of clinical & adolescent clinical psychology: a contextual approach. London: Brunner-Routledge.

• Copley, B. and Forryan, B. (1997) Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People. London: Cassell.

• Geldard, K. and Geldard, D. (2002) Counselling Children: A Practical Introduction. London: Sage

• Lanyado, M., & Horne, A. (1999). The handbook of child and adolescent psychotherapy: psychoanalytic approaches. London: Routledge.

• Stallard, P. (2005). A Clinicians Guide to Think Good  Feel Good. Using CBT with Children and Young People. Wiley.