Graduate Diploma in Child Psychotherapy Studies

This course, offered by Psychological Medicine, is conducted via Distance Education on a part-time basis over two years. The course is directed primarily towards health, welfare and education professionals working with children and adolescents with emotional and behavioural problems and who wish to upgrade and develop their skills and understanding in the area. It aims to increase the participants' knowledge of psychoanalytic and developmental theory and the application of these to the treatment of children and adolescents with psychological difficulties, and to consider how this knowledge may be applied in their own workplace. This course does not provide specialist clinical training.

Applicants must have a medical degree, a degree in the health sciences, a degree with a psychology major or an education degree at a pass level from an approved tertiary institution, or qualifications and/or experience which are equivalent.

Course structure

First year

• DCP0001 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 1
• DCP0002 Normal developmental observation
• DCP0003 Psychoanalytic and developmental theories 2
• DCP0004 Psychodynamic assessment of children and adolescents

Second year

• DCP0005 Principles of child psychotherapy
• DCP0006 Principles of adolescent psychotherapy
• DCP0007 Principles of short-term therapy and crisis work
• DCP0008 Principles of working with parents

Assessment

Assessment will comprise regular and final assignments and interactive assessment via a residential workshop and threaded discussions groups via the internet.