Which modality for aspiring counsellor with CYP? Any counsellors or clinicians about?

[TrainingDilemma]

Hi all,
I'm currently doing a post graduate course linked to mental health.
I would like to undertake some further study in the autumn and am looking at post graduate diplomas in either:
-psychodynamic counselling
-humanistic counselling
-CBT therapy

Ultimately, I would like to be a school counsellor or work in a CAMHS setting.

Does anyone have any strong view about which would be the most relevant qualification to have to work with CYP in a school setting? I think the CBT might be a bit limited as so many children face difficulties linked to family situation/ past events which I don't think CBT would address.

Psychodynamic training would obviously address dysfunction within the family, but do you have to be willing to accept Freudian ideas in their entirety in order to follow this route?

And regarding the person centred or humanistic self actualisation thing, how relevant is this for children? is it more relevant for adults seeking personal fulfilment?

I feel quite confused about which path to follow. I am going to do a short course soon which will probably clarify my opinions, but I need to apply for post grad courses before the short course runs.

Any advice greatly appreciated. And apologies for my ignorance/ for any misconceptions in my OP.

Hi OP, I share your concerns about the limitations of just one approach, even if I can only speak as an adult who has had therapy of all the kinds you mention. The one that really worked for me was none of those things, but she really focused on the 'here and now' (as opposed to being exclusively in the past or as opposed to being more solution oriented like CBT) and on the dynamics in the client therapist relationship (which is where old feelings come up in the present and can be looked at and worked through.

Sorry I can't give the advice you are looking for and specifically not as it relates to CYP. Can you do an Integrative course, which takes several approaches and gives you the opportunity to choose a way that is right for you?

Thanks Pippi. There is no integrative course that would be logistically easy for me to do. Plus, if I'm honest, I think that I'd rather take a more purist approach then do further CPD in other modalities later on. I worry that an integrative approach might be a bit 'jack of all trades'- but that is not an informed opinion!

I like humanistic/ person centred approach with children, but I guess each approach is valid. For example, Place2be will accept counsellors from any approach, as far as I know. It might make sense to consider which approach appeals to you most - how do you think you'd be most happy working? Different approaches might be more or less suitable for different clients or issues, but the relationship between the counsellor and client is the most important thing.

I took a post Grad person centred Diploma and found it very woolly.
I find CBT limited, more of a 'covering the cracks' approach.
psychodynamic is faster and more forward thinking than traditional psychtherapy.
Any decent course will focus on 1/2 approaches but cover others too.

I do think it makes sense to find out which 'chimes' best with you but also which will be most practical in the area you are looking at / make you most employable?

Sweary, thanks. I have done the Level 2 course with Place2Be, actually!
I think that the difficulty is that I can see merits in each modality. My natural leaning is the same as yours- except I think I do believe in subconscious thought. But I cannot swallow everything Freud says. Can you be humanistic/ person centred and still have that belief in subconscious thought?

Training
of course! I have personcentred leanings (why i did the post grad i did) but also very psychodynamic too.

I think many many pc therapists work with at least an awareness of psychodynamic principles - it's all valid stuff. As your work develops you will learn what is right for you ( though appreciate that doesn't help with making your initial decision)

oh gosh, sorry basseting I missed your post totally!

you have both helped me a lot actually. how did you make things less woolly for yourself, basseting?

I have BACP accredited humanistic or psychodynamic courses locally. I don't want to have to go to London as its 2 hour round trip each way and so works less well with family commitments and also links to local placements.

And I only want to do another 2 years as I've already got a different professional qualification and I'm getting old and impatient!

If I was younger or more local i'd go with Tavistock as I got a place with them but it was year 1 of 4....

thank you both :)

Many children can’t really manage to work on a non concrete level so for them PC is the way forward. But you would be gleaning a lot from a psychodynamic perspective regardless and that insight would point you as a therapist.
Personally I much prefer psychodynamic theory and it helps me make sense of most stuff with clients. But my diploma was integrative alongside PC and the relationship is bedded firmly in the PC.
Not much use am I? I guess I’m thinking that For work with young people I would say PC is probably the most important to help make that initial connection and to create the right setting and foundation for growth and change.
And I guess you could do some cpd and personal development surrounding psychodynamic theory too along the way?
And no, complete belief in Freud is not essential at all! Thankfully.

training I dont think I did?
I found PC to be good for making connections but limited further down the line where I found psychodynamic much more useful.
I am stuck in the NE where opportunities for work are limited.
what is it like where you are?
it is another consideration before you do more expensive training?

Hi Basseting, I'm in the South East and see quite a few jobs advertised. I'm going to do this because it feels right and I'm very fortunate in that DH has a good salary. Also, I am an experienced teacher so have that to fall back on until qualified if need be. But is this a financially sensible and viable path to be taking? No. Not without the support of DH. I'm very lucky.

I trained integraritively (p/c, TA, CBT) then did a post grad in psychodynamic theory and am now adding further systemic training to the mix. I think PC gives a good solid underpinning and can then be added onto. Systemic is great for understanding families and relationships. Good luck with it