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Youth Access Launches Accredited Counselling Training Programme

08 July, 2010

Launch Release Statement 8th July 2010 – for immediate release

Launch of Youth Access’s Accredited Training Programme for Counsellors working with young people

As a result of an exciting collaboration with the University of East London (UEL), Youth Access launches its new Masters level youth counselling training programme.

Youth Access has previously reported the failure of many diploma and graduate level counselling training programmes to adequately prepare counsellors for working with young people. Counselling agencies in Youth Access’ membership have long demanded wider recognition of the specialist skills and knowledge required to work with young people and the need for better access to specialist training and qualifications.

In the current economic environment, there is increasing evidence that young people are presenting in counselling agencies with more complex and severe mental ill-health and emotional wellbeing problems. Youth Access welcomes the Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Landsley’s recent announcement to ensure greater access to talking therapies and the delivery of long term solutions for people with mental health problems. As evidence shows that most adult mental health problems have their origins in childhood and adolescence (Kim-Cohen et al. 2003); the provision of safe, accessible, age appropriate and effective services during adolescence and early adulthood is crucial.

Those offering counselling to young people have a vital role to play in reducing the mental distress and the possible long term social and economic consequences for individual young people, but for too long their access to training and qualifications has been limited. Now for the first time counsellors can access the right training and secure a recognised qualification, as Barbara Rayment, Director of Youth Access says:

“Our long experience of representing and supporting youth counselling demonstrates the depth and range of skills and knowledge required of those working with young people. The accreditation of our widely respected counselling training - valued by practitioners in our own network, as well as large national organisations - has been a much cherished aspiration. I am delighted that in future those attending our training will have the opportunity to gain a high level qualification – helping to improve both the status and recognition of these practitioners and the critical services they offer young people.”

For the first time, counsellors working specifically with young people will have the option to gain Master level credits, and those who gain 120 credits from successfully completing Youth Access courses will be able to apply to progress onto the final dissertation of a relevant Masters Programme. This will allow counsellors to take Youth Access’s accredited short courses at their own pace, spreading the training across one or several years: combining affordable prices, flexibility and convenience.

Youth Access is now taking bookings for the new Counselling Training Programme which begins this October. There are 17 short-courses to choose from and participants can either attend the open programme or a course can be delivered in-house to an organisation.

Click here to view the full training programme and book places

UEL logo
These courses have been accredited by UEL

Notes for Editors

1. Youth Access is the national membership association for a network of over 200 youth information, advice, counselling and support services across the UK dealing with over one million enquiries a year on issues as diverse as sexual health, mental health, relationships, homelessness, benefits and debt. For further information, go to: www.youthaccess.org.uk.

2. For more information, on the Counselling Training Programme contact:

Catherine Wilson,
Counselling Services Development Manager, Youth Access
020 8772 9900 ext. 22
catherine@youthaccess.org.uk

3. Other relevant reports published by Youth Access include:

• Counselling Workforce Key Findings Briefing. Youth Access (2008). Download

• Counselling Workforce Key Findings: Young people’s Consultation Findings and Recommendations. Youth Access (2008). Download

• Download other Youth Access’ reports and publications