Working with young people

Intro

Adolescence is second only to infancy in the speed and complexity of development of the person. As a theory which has at its heart a belief in the tendency of individuals to grow towards their potential, the person-centred approach is especially suited as not only a therapeutic, but also developmental and preventative, way of working with young people.

Susan McGinnis is founder and coordinator of the Counselling in Schools Project based at the University of Strathclyde Counselling Unit, and continues to work as a counsellor for young people.

She has been editor of the journal Counselling Children and Young People, wrote the BACP Good Practice Guidance for Counselling in Schools documents, and has contributed chapters to How We Feel: An Insight Into the Emotional World of Teenagers (Jessica Kingsley, 1997) and Safeguarding Children and Schools (Jessica Kingsley, 2008).

A long-time advocate of counselling provision for children and young people, Susan has an interest in policy-making and promoting child-centred values. She has recently been focusing on developing person-centred theory and practice with regard to counselling young people.

What you study

This workshop will invite participants to consider:

• What does person-centred theory have to offer counsellors working with young people and how does it support effective practice?
• How does the person-centred approach conceptualise, and work with, the behaviour-related issues for which young people are often referred for counselling?
• What are the dynamics of the therapeutic relationship between adult and child?
• How does the practitioner who prizes the ethical and person-centred values of autonomy and confidentiality balance these with the demands and expectations of working within the law, and the institutions in which we meet our young clients?

Entry routes

More info

Booking a place

All workshops are based at Abertay University, in the centre of Dundee, 10.00-5.00. Tea and coffee are provided. To keep costs down, lunch is not included – you are invited to bring your own lunch or use nearby sandwich shops and cafes, or the Student Centre.

Workshop fees:  

• £75 standard fee
• £50 student/unwaged

To register for one of these workshops, request details of accommodation options in Dundee, or to receive information about other CPD workshops being offered in 2010, please contact:

Marian Wallace
CPD Administrator
School of Social and Health Sciences
University of Abertay Dundee
Bell Street
Dundee
DD1 1HG
Email: m.wallace@abertay.ac.uk 
Tel: 01382 308765

To talk to someone about what is involved in any of the workshops, or to receive further information, please contact Julia McLeod on julia.mcleod@abertay.ac.uk or 01382 308507.

• Places are limited – early booking is recommended
• Fees must be paid in advance
• Evidence is required of student/unwaged status