Program Overview

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CYP-PT Therapies PG Dip

Key information

Course type: Single honours Delivery mode: In person Study mode: Full time Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): 120 credits Application status: Closed Start date: January 2026

Programme Description

This programme is an initiative from the Department of Health, which supports the government’s priority to increase access to evidence-based mental health interventions for children and young people. Students on this course learn core therapeutic skills for working with children and young people. They then specialise in an evidence-based therapy. We are jointly commissioned with UCL, and at KCL we offer Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Parent training and Systemic Family Practice. During training, students attend lectures, clinical skills workshops, and small video feedback tutor groups at university, while practising clinically under supervision at their site. They learn how to deliver evidence-based interventions for common mental health problems, and how to evaluate the success of the interventions in a way that is meaningful for children, young people, and their families. They learn service project, presentation and workshop skills, and clinical competencies are assessed with video sessions and case reports.

Key benefits

• Competence in delivery of evidence-based mental health interventions for common mental health problems in children and young people in community settings.
• Being part of an exciting initiative and programme that increases access to mental health care for children and young people.
• Increased competence in presentation skills and workshop delivery.
• Development of service project and case presentation skills.
• Being part of a bonded team of staff and students from diverse education and training backgrounds, at university and at site.

Course essentials

Base campus

• Denmark Hill Campus Home to the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience.

Regulating bodies

• King's is regulated by the Office for Students

Entry requirements

CBT pathway

• Normally a minimum of a second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant academic subject (e.g. Psychology, Education, Childhood development, Social Work etc), OR any subject with further training or experience in a relevant field (e.g. Teaching/TA; Learning Support; HCA; Youth Work; Counselling etc)
• AND/OR a registerable professional qualification in a relevant subject (e.g. medicine, psychology, social work, nursing) from a UK university of overseas professional qualification of an equivalent standards
• At least one year’s experience working therapeutically with children/young people in a mental health setting
• Previous experience of working within a CBT framework
• Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, including IELTS or equivalent to the appropriate level for students with English as a foreign language (BAND D)

Systemic Family Practice pathway

• Normally a minimum of a second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant academic subject (e.g. Psychology, Education, Childhood development, Social Work etc), OR any subject with further training or experience in a relevant field (e.g. Teaching/TA; Learning Support; HCA; Youth Work; Counselling etc)
• A registerable professional qualification (e.g. as a counselling/clinical/educational psychologist, social worker, counsellor, mental health nurse, teacher/SENCO, occupational therapist).
• Applications MAY be considered from those with a relevant first degree who do not have a registerable processional training if they have at least 3 years’ experience in a CAMHS or equivalent setting.
• Knowledge and understanding of issues relating to safeguarding children and young people
• Experience of working with children/young people in a mental health setting
• Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, including IELTS or equivalent to the appropriate level for students with English as a foreign language (BAND D)

Parent Training pathway

• Normally a minimum of a second-class Bachelor’s degree from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a relevant academic subject (e.g. Psychology, Education, Childhood development, Social Work etc), OR any subject with further training or experience in a relevant field (e.g. Teaching/TA; Learning Support; HCA; Youth Work; Counselling etc)
• Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level
• Two years’ experience of working within a professional setting concerned with the mental health, development and wellbeing of children and young people or families
• Experience of working professionally with children & families (e.g., as family support worker; teaching assistant)
• Capability to complete academic work at postgraduate diploma level, including IELTS or equivalent to the appropriate level for students with English as a foreign language (BAND D)

Teaching & structure

Teaching methods - what to expect

You will be taught through a mix of lectures, clinical skills workshops/tutorials and online activities.

Module name	Lectures (hours)	Seminars/ tutorials (hours)	Self-directed study (hours)	Total (hours)
1 Core Therapeutic Skills for CYP	120	30	450	600 (60 credits)
2 CBT for Anxiety, PTSD, OCD and BDD in CYP	60	30	210	300 (30 credits)
3 CBT for Depression in CYP	60	30	210	300
4 Parent Training for Conduct Problems	120	30	450	600
5 Systemic Family Practice: Basic Skills	60	30	210	300
6 Systemic Family Practice: Eating Disorders	60	30	210	300
7 Systemic Family Practice: Conduct Disorders	30	18	102	150 (15 credits)
8 Systemic family practice: Depression and self harm	30	18	102	150

Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks.

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they are subject to change.

Structure

Required modules

All students are required to take:

• Module 1 Core Therapeutical Skills for CYP
• Students on the CBT Stream take Modules 2 & 3 in addition.
• Students on the Parent Training Stream take Module 4 in addition.
• Students on the Systemic Family Practice take Module 5 and either Module 6, or both Module 7 & 8.

1 Core Therapeutic Skills for CYP (60 credits) 2 CBT for Anxiety, PTSD, OCD and BDD in CYP (30 credits) 3 CBT for Depression in CYP (30 credits) 4 Parent Training for Conduct Problems (60 Credits) 5 Systemic Family Practice: Basic Skills (30 Credits) 6 Systemic Family Practice: Eating Disorders (15 Credits) 7 Systemic Family Practice: Conduct Disorders (15 Credits) 8 Systemic Family Practice: Depression and Self Harm (15 Credits)

Optional modules

Available pathways according to chosen stream:

• Module 1 + 2 and 3
• Module 1 + 4
• Module 1 + 5 and 6
• 1 + 5 + 7 and 8

These modules are decided on accepting the place and NOT on completion of module 1. The evidence-based modality you train in is according to a specific number of places commissioned nationally and so it is not possible to move between modalities once the place has been commissioned. For more information on national curricula and qualification standards, please contact the course team.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Careers

Employability

Graduates frequently continue in the field of mental health and wellbeing, and to obtain relevant professional accreditations in their chosen evidence-based modality.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

UK

• Full time: Fees are paid by NHS England
• Part time: N/A

International

• Full time: N/A
• Part time: N/A

Deposit

Please note that for this course fees are paid by NHS England: you are not required to pay a deposit.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• books if you choose to buy your own copies.
• library fees and fines
• society membership fees.
• stationery
• travel costs for travel to and around London and between campuses/accommodation for your stay in London
• graduation costs.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's please visit the Fees and Funding section.