We are pleased to share that our IiST Conversion Course will be launching on 1 February 2023 and eligible candidates are now welcome to apply. The Conversion Course is designed for individuals who have completed their training to become either an accredited Child Psychotherapeutic Counsellor or Psychotherapist through the iST training pathway. Having gained UKCP accreditation delegates may wish to work as a Child Psychotherapeutic Counsellor or Child Psychotherapist internally or externally to Childhood First. This is also an opportunity for advanced iST practitioners to gain new skills and enhance their current practice as a form of continuing professional development.

The course is designed as a relatively short but intensive programme and will require commitment and investment.

The objective of the course is to equip a student to practice competently, to practice safely, ethically, and to practice with integrity, as a Child Psychotherapeutic Counsellor or Child Psychotherapist working 1:1 with a child or young person in a variety of settings. It may also be used as an opportunity for continuing professional development for accredited practitioners working in other roles who are still interested in learning these skills.

Please note that if you are undertaking this training as an external-based student (and not a Childhood First employee) then there is a fee of £450 payable in advance. This includes all course materials, access to a personal tutor and 3 full days of teaching (face-to-face or online). It also includes a downloadable iST certificate on completion of the course. This course is accredited by Middlesex University and if you require a Middlesex certificate there is an additional fee of £115. These prices are correct as of December 2022.

For internal candidates please note that you will need to undertake a counselling placement external to Childhood First unless in a post as Child Therapist. Costs of any external supervision fees in relation to any external counselling placements must be covered by the student. Please also note that unless you have been appointed as a Child Psychotherapeutic Counsellor or Psychotherapist as your job role, partaking in this course does not mean you will be undertaking individual counselling work internally, it is an opportunity to build further therapeutic and clinical skills.

The course will offer the opportunity for self-directed learning with access to a personal tutor, three full in-person teaching days (based at Childhood First Central Office, London) on:

6 March 2023,

3 May 2023,

17 July 2023

All students will be required to undertake a counselling placement (external to Childhood First unless in a post as Child Therapist).