Counselling: Children and Young People (10-18) (SCQF level 11) PDA

Information iconCourse code: 648C

Calendar iconStudy mode: You take fewer course units/modules per week compared to full time.

Mortar board iconCourse type: PDA

Globe iconInternational: Not eligible for international students

Campus iconStudy at: Moray

Pen iconStart in: May

Computer and book iconLearning mode: You attend classes in person at the local campus or learning centre., You complete a work-based activity to gain industry experience.

Clock iconDuration: Part time: 14 months

Book and tick iconHow: You attend classes at scheduled times, shown on your timetable.

What is special about this course?

Do you want to strengthen the way you support children and young people in your existing therapeutic practice? Could you build more specialist skills and confidence when working with 10-18 year olds facing complex emotional, behavioural, and relational challenges?

Our PDA in Counselling: Children and Young People (10–18) (SCQF level 11) helps you deepen your professional practice and expand your ability to work effectively with younger clients. Designed for qualified counsellors and experienced practitioners, this specialist qualification combines theory, reflective practice, skills development, and real-world application so you can adapt your therapeutic approach with confidence across a range of settings.

Explore child and adolescent development, neuroscience, trauma, safeguarding, and ethical practice, while developing counselling approaches tailored specifically to 10-18 year olds. As one of the few specialist counselling qualifications in Scotland focused exclusively on the therapeutic needs of children and young people, this PDA helps you connect research-informed practice with practical therapeutic skills.

Learn how to adapt counselling methods for younger clients using creative, age-appropriate approaches, strengthen your understanding of legal, ethical, and safeguarding responsibilities when working with minors, and build your confidence in assessment, risk management, and therapeutic planning while enhancing your ability to support complex needs with empathy and professionalism.

Special features

  • Fully experiential delivery with practical exercises and skills practice
  • Highly qualified and experienced tutors with specialist knowledge in children and young people's counselling
  • Weekend delivery to fit around professional and personal commitments
  • In-person CPD opportunity in North East Scotland
  • Minimal in-person commitment with focused, high-impact training
  • Focus on real-world work with children and young people

  • You must have successfully completed, or be working towards, a professional counselling qualification at SCQF level 8 or above
  • A minimum of 100 hours supervised counselling/psychotherapy practice in line with recognised practitioner training
  • Registered member of BACP or an equivalent professional body who adheres to an ethical framework
  • This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For this course, you must hold enhanced PVG disclosure for working with children and young people. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage

You will study the following core modules:

  • Ethics and professional standards
  • Safe and competent practice

How will I study my course?

  • Part-time
  • This course is mainly delivered in-person, one day per month, on campus at UHI Moray
  • Additional study groups will also take place outside of this
  • Any online study will be done via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
  • You will undertake a mandatory placement of 50 hours within the 'Safe and competent practice' module, usually undertaken within a school setting

How long will my course last?

  • Part-time: 14 months @ 1 day per month (Saturday session held at UHI Moray)

The number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent on online material as well as individual study and research.

  • Moray

Start date

  • May

Fees

The good news is that depending on your personal circumstances there are a wide range of bursaries, grants and allowances available to fund your college studies.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

You are required to complete 50 placement hours as part of the course, this also includes 8.5 hours of supervision. A supervisor will be provided, however supervision costs are not included in the course fees and must be covered separately by you.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed this course, you might like to consider careers in:

  • Counselling children and young people
  • Youth/support work
  • School counsellor
  • Mental health support worker