Unit information: Therapeutic Work With Children in 2012/13

Unit name	Therapeutic Work With Children
Unit code	SPOL20014
Credit points	20
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Turner
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

This unit begins with a consideration of emotional and relationship development in infancy and early childhood, drawing on theory and relevant research findings to indicate how physiological, environmental and social factors can affect - either positively or adversely - the child's emotional well-being. Attention will then be focused on services and agencies that provide therapy for children, tracing the history of their development and their current status. Finally, a sample of therapeutic approaches (for example, speech therapy, drug therapy, play therapy, the creative therapies) will be considered in terms of their conceptual bases, their efficacy and their characteristics in practice.

The unit aims to:

• Acquaint students with theoretical and research material relating to the emotional development of children & young people;

• Increase students’ awareness of the history, range and nature of services available to young people experiencing problems with emotional and social development;

• Provide students with an increased understanding of a selection of therapeutic models used in work with children & young people.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the unit will be more aware of the emotional and social difficulties which children & young persons may experience; they will be better equipped to recognise such difficulties and understand the theoretical models and methods by which these may be addressed and the relevant research; finally, they will be better able to consider whether further professional training in therapeutic work with young people is a suitable career option for them.

Teaching Information

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, student presentations and guided individual study.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment by a formal presentation.

Summative assessment: one 3 000 word essay, chosen from a list of titles

Reading and References

• Axline, V. (1964) Dibs in Search of Self. Aylesbury: Harmondsworth.

• Barwick, N. (2000) Clinical Counselling in Schools. London: Routledge.

• Carr, A. (2004). The handbook of clinical & adolescent clinical psychology: a contextual approach. London: Brunner-Routledge.

• Copley, B. and Forryan, B. (1997) Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People. London: Cassell.

• Geldard, K. and Geldard, D. (2002) Counselling Children: A Practical Introduction. London: Sage

• Lanyado, M., & Horne, A. (1999). The handbook of child and adolescent psychotherapy: psychoanalytic approaches. London: Routledge.