Level 5 Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People
(TM5D/J)
Working with children 4 years +
About this course
Level 5 Counselling Children and Young People (4+) is designed for qualified counsellors who want to develop the specialist knowledge, skills and confidence needed to work therapeutically with children and young people aged 4–17.
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Building on your Level 4 training and existing counselling practice, the course explores how therapeutic work needs to adapt to the age, developmental stage and individual needs of the child or young person.
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You will develop your understanding of child development, attachment, safeguarding, assessment and risk, therapeutic relationships and working with parents, carers and other professionals, alongside the use of creative and play-based approaches within counselling practice.
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The course has an Integrative approach, supporting you to adapt your existing therapeutic framework while developing a flexible, creative and developmentally appropriate way of working with children and young people.
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Successful completion supports qualified counsellors wishing to extend their practice into specialist CYP work within schools, agencies, organisations and independent practice.
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Course at a glance
1 year
Course duration
120 hours
Guided learning
Face to Face
Hockley Heath, Solihull
90%
Attendance requirement
What you'll learn
This Level 5 course develops the specialist knowledge, skills and self-awareness required to work therapeutically with children and young people aged 4–17.
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Throughout the course, you will explore:
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• Legal, ethical, safeguarding and child protection responsibilities when working with children and young people
• Assessing and managing risk within CYP counselling
• Developing age and developmentally appropriate therapeutic relationships
• Child development and attachment theory and their application to therapeutic practice
• Working creatively and experientially, including the therapeutic use of play and creative approaches
• Adapting your core counselling approach to meet the developmental needs of individual children and young people
• Assessment, contracting, endings and transitions in CYP work
• Working appropriately with parents, carers, schools and other professionals
• Understanding diversity and the factors affecting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people
• Understanding power, authority and boundaries within CYP therapeutic relationships
• Psychopathology, pharmacology and neuroscience in relation to CYP work
• Using supervision, research, reflective practice and continuing professional development to maintain effective CYP practice
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Professional practice requirements
60 hours
CYP client work
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40 hours
Personal therapy by completion (Can include L4 - pls check)
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Clinical Supervision
Throughout client work with a suitable supervisor
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Age 4 - 17 Yrs
Specialist CYP practice
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During Level 5 you will complete a minimum of 60 hours of formally contracted one-to-one counselling with children and young people aged 4–17, including responsibility for appropriate client assessment.
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Your clinical work must be supported by appropriate CYP clinical supervision throughout the course. You will be required to provide two supervisor reports, one after completing 30 client hours and a second after completing 60 client hours.
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By the end of Level 5, you must have completed a minimum of 40 hours of personal therapy in total, including qualifying therapy undertaken during your previous counselling training. At least 10 hours must be undertaken during the Level 5 training year.
Your client work, supervision and professional development form an integral part of the course and provide the opportunity to apply your specialist CYP learning within real therapeutic practice.
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Assessment
Assessment takes place throughout the course and reflects the development of your specialist CYP knowledge, therapeutic skills, self-awareness and clinical practice.
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You will build a portfolio of evidence demonstrating proficiency across all learning outcomes. Assessment includes:
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• Two written assignments of approximately 3,000–3,500 words
• A record of 60 hours of CYP client work and clinical supervision
• A review of a 15-minute transcript of clinical work
• Reflective learning and self-review
• Assessed counselling skills practice
• A case presentation
• Tutor observation and feedback
• Evidence of personal therapy
• Two supervisor reports — one after 30 client hours and one after 60 client hours
• Peer feedback
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Regular tutorials and progress reviews will support you in monitoring your development throughout the course. To achieve the qualification, you must meet all course requirements, including the required client hours, and demonstrate proficiency across all learning outcomes.
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Entry requirements
Applicants must be aged 19 or over and hold the CPCAB Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (TC-L4) or an equivalent Level 4 or above counselling qualification of at least 300 Guided Learning Hours, aligned with SCoPEd Column A competencies, together with appropriate prior counselling training.
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Applicants must also have completed a minimum of 150 supervised client hours, including their qualifying placement hours. This ensures that students have sufficient post-qualification practice experience to have begun developing their own professional identity, therapeutic approach and understanding of client work before moving into specialist CYP practice.
As this is advanced specialist training, applicants need to demonstrate readiness to develop their therapeutic work with children and young people at greater depth and complexity.
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When considering applications, we will look for:
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• Clear professional reasons for undertaking specialist CYP training
• The academic and emotional capacity to work at Level 5
• Experience of therapeutic counselling practice
• Self-awareness, insight, honesty and integrity
• The ability to form and sustain therapeutic relationships
• The ability to work sensitively with difference and diversity
• Openness to personal development and reflective learning
• The ability to give, receive and respond to challenge and feedback
• The ability to respond sensitively and empathically to children and young people
• The ability to work professionally alongside parents, carers, schools, agencies and other professionals
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Important: Level 5 CYP training involves experiential learning, personal disclosure and engagement with complex and sometimes emotionally challenging material. Applicants need to be sufficiently emotionally and psychologically able to engage safely with the demands of advanced specialist practitioner training.
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Course dates & times
September 2026
Saturday daytime
Starting 5 September 2026
9.30am – 5.00pm
September 2027
Saturday daytime
Starting 4 September 2027
9.30am – 5.00pm
This one-year course runs across 17 Saturday teaching sessions over the academic year.
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A full course timetable will be provided to students before the course begins.
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Course fees
£2,495
2026/27 course fee
£500 deposit
+ 10 monthly installments of £199.50
2027/28 fees to be confirmed
£500 deposit
+10 monthly installments of £TBC
Course fees are payable in full and remain payable if you withdraw from the course before completion. Fees can be paid in full or through our monthly payment plan.
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All cohorts are subject to minimum enrolment numbers. If a course is unable to run, applicants will be notified at least two weeks before the scheduled start date.
Qualification & progression
On successful completion, you will achieve the Level 5 Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People (4+) – TM5D/J.
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This specialist post-qualifying programme develops the knowledge, skills and therapeutic practice required to work with children and young people aged 4–17, building on your existing qualification and experience as a counsellor.
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The course supports progression into specialist CYP counselling roles within schools, agencies, organisations and independent practice, as well as further professional development and training.
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Qualification: Level 5 Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People (4+) – TM5D/J
AGES 4–17
Specialist CYP practice
120
Guided Learning Hours (GLH)
TM5D/J
Tailor-made qualification
Level 5
Specialist qualification
Ready to apply?
Ready to deepen your practice and take the next step in your professional development?
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Please complete our application form and book a place at one of our upcoming Level 5 group interviews using the links below. Available interview dates and times can be viewed and booked through Eventbrite.
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