Child psychotherapist : Training

Child and adolescent psychotherapists are required to undertake continuing professional development (CPD) in order to keep abreast of clinical and theoretical advances, and are expected to maintain and further professional expertise through working with children and young people in a therapeutic setting for at least three sessions per week.

Members of The Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP)  and the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)  must submit returns on an annual basis detailing their CPD activity. Requirements include:

• engagement in CPD activities, such as regular attendance at conferences, training courses and meetings (5% of employed time is recommended) - recorded in a log-book;
• a minimum of 12 hours per month of clinical work;
• time spent under clinical supervision (frequency varies according to grade and experience).

Recommended CPD activities include:

• work-based learning, e.g. supervision, in-service training, peer review and discussion with colleagues;
  professional activity, e.g. involvement in a professional body, lecturing and teaching, presentation at conferences;
• formal and education, e.g. top-up courses, submission of papers to a journal, undertaking research;
• self-directed learning, e.g. reading professional journals and updating knowledge via the media.
• Relevant short courses in areas such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), confidentiality and report-writing, special interest work and current child protection guidelines are provided by professional organisations, employers and NHS trusts.

The ACP organises regular meetings and lectures for members, which are advertised in The Bulletin, the monthly members’ magazine, and documented in the Journal of Child Psychotherapy, the official scientific journal of the ACP. ACP-accredited training schools also run a series of training programmes for child and adolescent psychotherapists at different stages of their careers, ranging from introductory lectures and discussion groups to post-qualification workshops.

Similarly, the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP)  publishes a quarterly magazine, The Psychotherapist, and organises a series of events and conferences throughout the year. UKCP organisational members also offer post-qualifying courses for psychotherapists already trained to work with adults who want to extend their knowledge and skills in order to work with children and young people.

The Society of Analytical Psychology (SAP)  publishes its own journal and lists books written or edited by its members.

Charities working with children and young people, such as YoungMinds , also run short courses that may be of relevance to child and adolescent psychotherapists.