CBT with Children and Adolescents Course

Blended Learning Programme

Apply cognitive behavioural approaches when working with young people.

This specialist certificate explores how Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques can be adapted to support children and adolescents experiencing emotional and behavioural difficulties. Participants learn developmentally appropriate strategies for helping young clients understand and manage thoughts, emotions and behaviours. The course supports practitioners in integrating CBT tools into therapeutic work with younger populations.

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Programme Type: QQI L9 Certificate
Next Intakes: TBC

NFQ: Level 9
ECTS: 10

Academic Validation: QQI

Professional Accreditation: N/A

Overview

Introduction

This certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with children and adolescents is designed for professionals working in the helping professions who wish to integrate CBT into their practice. It enables graduates to apply fresh knowledge and skills in their current roles.

Who Should Apply

This course will be of interest to those working in a supportive capacity with children and adolescents, including counsellors, psychotherapists, social workers, social care workers, key workers, mental health nurses, guidance counsellors, special needs assistants (SNAs) and teachers.

It is suitable for accredited therapists or those who can implement their learning from the course in a workplace or volunteer setting.

While the course is not large enough in credit volume to meet the threshold for professional body recognition, it is suitable for those looking to bring fresh knowledge and skills to their current work. If you are seeking professional training in counselling and psychotherapy, please contact us directly.

Entry Requirements
  • Applicants are required to evidence attainment of a minimum of Level 8 in counselling and/or psychotherapy or a minimum of a Level 8 degree in a cognate discipline, or equivalent.
  • They are required to demonstrate relevant experience in working with people in a responsible and caring role.
  • They must be in a work setting or role that provides opportunities to apply their learning, such as paid or voluntary work with children within the helping professions, counselling support services, psychological settings, social care settings and/or project, youth or community work.
Minimum Technological Requirements

For the blended learning programme, you will need to have:

  • Adequate broadband for uploading and downloading
  • A desktop computer or laptop capable of using Zoom
  • A webcam and microphone
  • A web browser
  • Word processing package

This course offers a specialised, evidence-informed foundation for applying CBT with children and adolescents. It combines contemporary CBT theory, developmentally sensitive practice and practical intervention skills within a flexible blended learning format. Participants benefit from expert instruction, engagement with key literature and opportunities for reflective application, enabling them to work confidently and competently with younger clients in a range of professional settings.

Overview

In this course, learners will engage in formal didactic lectures, skills practice, group discussion, reflective exercises and experiential exercises related to the following:

  • The historical development of CBT (Ellis and Beck)
  • Theoretical underpinnings (Ellis and Beck)
  • Case formulation in CBT
  • An exploration of the CBT model
  • The therapeutic process and alliance in CBT
  • Skills development
  • The ABC approach of Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT)
  • Understanding emotion from a CBT perspective
  • Identifying and challenging irrational beliefs
  • Differentiating between irrational beliefs and inferences
  • Supporting the development of rational beliefs
  • Facilitating psychological understanding of CBT concepts with children and adolescents
  • Facilitating acceptance and coping
  • Facilitating change: behavioural techniques
  • Facilitating change: cognitive technique
  • Homework in CBT

A key focus will be the application of CBT theory and practice with children and adolescents, with attention to their developmental context.

Dates

TBC

Delivery

The course is delivered using a blended learning model. This includes a rotational format in which learners attend both onsite and online classes. Hybrid delivery is not used; therefore, onsite classes are an integral component of the programme.

Student Benefits and Support

We hold that it is not enough to simply teach the skills of counselling and psychotherapy. Learners are given the space to learn, practise and be supported as they develop for themselves a style and model of counselling that is personal and effective.

Work-Based Learning

Before commencing the course, learners must be working or volunteering in a setting where they are actively supporting children and/or adolescents. They must evidence a minimum of 20 hours of practice where CBT is integrated into their professional practice, in their specific context. This must be supervised at a ratio of 1:5, meaning one supervision session for every five hours of practice.

Assessment

Case study assignment (100% of the module grade)

Learners are required to submit a comprehensive case study where CBT was used as an intervention. They will commence the assignment with a literature review that analyses the theoretical and clinical underpinnings of the CBT approach. (This can include exploration of the efficacy of CBT with the presenting issue inherent in the case.) A critical evaluation of CBT interventions in complex clinical settings should be included in the review. In the case study, learners will demonstrate their ability to prepare a CBT-based case formulation and to engage, using CBT, with a client. The case study should demonstrate appropriate integration and application of cognitive and behavioural interventions with a child or adolescent.

Validation and Accreditation

This certificate is awarded as a minor award at Level 9 of the NFQ and is validated by QQI.

Credits

10 ECTS

Learners will engage in formal didactic lectures, skills practice, group discussion, reflective exercises and experiential exercises related to CBT with children and adolescents. This will include exploring the theoretical and clinical underpinnings of Cognitive Therapy (CT) and REBT, as well as considering case formulation. They will become familiar with the CBT model, the therapeutic process and alliance in CBT and will focus on developing skills to identify and challenge negative automatic thoughts and irrational beliefs. The course is designed to help learners facilitate psychological understanding of CBT concepts with younger clients and facilitate change and acceptance with children and adolescents.

IICP College understands that while partaking in further education is an incredibly rewarding experience, it can also be a financial challenge for some learners. To minimise the financial impact, we strive to keep course fees as competitive as possible. We also offer payment plan options to help learners pay the balance of their fees over the duration of their course.

Overall Fees

Certificate fee: €975 (includes €50 QQI fee)

(A deposit of €292.50 secures your place.)

    Payment Options

    (1) The balance is due on or before the first day of the course.

    DepositBalance of FeesTotal
    €292.50 (on acceptance of an offer)€682.50€975

    (2) Learners can opt to sign up for our direct debit scheme, if they wish to pay in instalments.

    Contact us to find out more.
    Please note that this scheme incurs an administration fee of €100.

    Extra Costs

    Except where stated, course fees cover tuition only. Learners on this programme must also complete 20 hours of practice work and, if not provided in their work context, they will need to engage an individual supervisor for this work. Supervision fees are negotiable between learners and individual supervisors.

      Protection for Enrolled Learners

      This programme is covered by arrangements under Section 65(4) of the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 whereby, in the event of IICP College ceasing to provide the programme for any reason, enrolled learners may transfer to a similar programme at another provider, or in the event that this is not possible, the fees most recently paid will be refunded. Current PEL arrangements consist of a 2% levy on course fees. IICP do not pass the cost of this on to learners.

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