Program Overview

DipHE Counselling (Child and Young Person)

Introduction

Become a professional counsellor who specialises in working with children and young adults. Studying at Renew Counselling in Chelmsford, you’ll get modern, specialist clinical training in an exciting and authentic environment.

Our course will help you develop into a competent, reflective counsellor who can work effectively and ethically with children and young people.

Through your studies, you’ll develop understanding in areas including child development, psychopathology, creative techniques, art materials and play.

There's a strong focus on developing your self-awareness as well as practical skills, and so you'll engage in observed groups to develop your understanding. From Year 3 all our students start a placement totalling 150 clinical hours.

We've designed this course so that you develop British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP) competences, enhancing your employability.

Course Options

• 4 years part-time
• Start dates: September
• Location: Renew Counselling

Key Facts

• Study options: 4 years part-time
• Start dates: September
• Location: Renew Counselling
• Entry: UCAS code: n/a
• Fees: £4,767 UK students starting 2025/26 (part-time, per year)

Teaching and Assessment

Whole Course

Modules are subject to change and availability.

• Basic Counselling Skills for Counselling Children and Young People
• Basic Theory for Counselling Children and Young People
• Understanding Children's Psychosocial Development
• Counselling Practice (Young Person)
• Personal Development and Peer Group Participation
• Counselling Practice (Child)
• Historical Perspectives - Counselling Children and Young People
• Investigating Your Own Practice
• Counselling Supervision
• Contemporary Perspectives and Psychopathology
• Counselling Case Study

Assessment

As well as conventional forms of assessment, you’ll keep personal journals which our tutors will review every week.

Entry Requirements

• 3 GCSEs at grade C, or grade 4, or above, including English.
• All candidates must include in their written applications, commentaries about relevant experience of working with young children and/or young people and their rationale for wanting to undertake the course.
• An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required.
• To receive an offer of a place on this course you must be successful at interview.

Alternatives

• Entry to the course through accreditation by Anglia Ruskin University of prior learning will also be considered.

Important Additional Notes

Our published entry requirements are a guide only and our decision will be based on your overall suitability for the course as well as whether you meet the minimum entry requirements.

Other equivalent qualifications may be accepted for entry to this course; please email for further information. Applicants to undergraduate courses can also check our information about undergraduate entry qualifications.

You'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course.

Fees and Paying for University

Tuition Fees and Student Loans for UK Students (2025/26)

£4,767 UK students starting 2025/26 (part-time, per year)

If you're a UK student, you don't need the money to pay for university now.

If you accept an offer to study at university, you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your course fees.

Both full-time and part-time students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan. Part-time students should be studying more than a quarter (25% intensity) of a full-time course each year.

You'll start repaying the loan in the April after you graduate.

If you start a course on or after 1 August 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £25,000. This is called repayment Plan 5. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £25,000. After 40 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

If you started a course on or before 31 July 2023, you won't repay anything until you earn more than £27,295. This is called repayment Plan 2. At this point, you'll repay 9% on everything you earn over £27,295. After 30 years (from the April after graduation), all remaining debt is wiped.

For example for students who are on repayment Plan 5:

• If you earn £25,500, you'll repay £45 a year or £3.75 a month
• That's because £25,500 is £500 above the threshold, and 9% of £500 is £45.

What you repay depends on how much you earn after university. The more you earn, the more you pay back.

Facilities

Study a counselling course and benefit from being:

• based at Renew Counselling in the centre of Chelmsford
• supported by a high-quality counselling and therapy service.

Careers

Our course opens up exciting possibilities for you to work in mental health and its associated fields. You might work as a qualified counsellor, therapist, mental health worker or Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) professional. You could also explore social work, pastoral care or education.