Supervising Therapeutic Work with Children and Young People (CPD67)
Explore clinical supervision through a psychodynamic lens – promoting safe, ethical and effective practice in education, health, community settings.
This course, which is psychodynamic in its orientation, is designed for experienced mental health practitioners working with children and young people, who are undertaking, or preparing to undertake, a supervisory role.
Participants will be provided with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the role of the supervisor with a particular emphasis upon the emotional, relational and organisational dimensions of the task.
Aims and learning objectives
The course will enable learners to:
- Critically evaluate the purpose, functions and ethical responsibilities of clinical supervision within educational, health and community settings working with children and young people.
- Apply key psychoanalytic and psychodynamic concepts to supervisory practice, including transference, countertransference, containment and unconscious communication.
- Recognise and work with emotional and relational dynamics within the supervisory relationship, facilitating deeper understanding of clinical work and professional development.
- Evaluate the impact of organisational, systemic and cultural factors on supervision and therapeutic practice, considering how these factors shape clinical decision-making and professional relationships.
- Demonstrate the capacity to establish and maintain a psychodynamically informed supervisory framework, promoting safe, ethical and effective practice that contributes to positive outcomes for children and young people.
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for all professionals working therapeutically with children and young people, who currently provide supervision or are intending to take on a supervisory role.
For instance, you may be a:
- school counsellor
- child and adolescent psychotherapist
- counselling psychologist
- systemic psychotherapist
- art, play or music therapist
- CAMHS practitioner
- educational psychologist
It will be of particular interest to practitioners seeking to develop a psychodynamic approach to supervision within educational, health and community settings.
Course details
There will be eight monthly sessions. The next course will run on the following dates.
| Session | Date | Start time | End time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session 1/8 | Friday 22 January 2027 | 9:15am | 11:45am |
| Session 2/8 | Friday 26 February 2027 | 9:15am | 11:45am |
| Session 3/8 | Friday 19 March 2027 | 9:15am | 11:45am |
| Session 4/8 | Friday 16 April 2027 | 9:15am | 11:45am |
| Session 5/8 | Friday 7 May 2027 | 9:15am | 11:45am |
| Session 6/8 | Friday 21 May 2027 | 9:15am | 11:45am |
| Session 7/8 | Friday 18 June 2027 | 9:15am | 11:45am |
| Session 8/8 | Friday 16 July 2027 | 9:15am | 11:45am |
This course will be delivered remotely using Zoom and the sessions will not be recorded.
You will need a device with a microphone and camera together with a suitably fast internet connection. Although mobile devices and tablets can be used, we recommend the use of a laptop or desktop PC for the best experience. Some devices provided by employers may have restrictions in place. Please use this Zoom test link to check your set up before booking.
You will be sent the necessary login link about a week before the course start date. Should you have any concerns about the accessibility of remote delivery please contact us to discuss how we can best help you.
This psychodynamically informed course explores the theory and practice of supervision for professionals working therapeutically with children and young people. Participants will examine the supervisory relationship, including the role of containment, reflective practice, transference, countertransference and unconscious communication.
Through theoretical teaching, case discussion, experiential exercises and reflective group learning, the course will consider the emotional, ethical and organisational aspects of supervision. Attention will be given to managing complexity, supporting professional development, maintaining clinical standards and understanding systemic influences on practice.
Participants will have opportunities to present material from their own supervisory work and develop confidence in their supervisory role.
Library membership
Included in your course fee, you will receive online membership to the Tavistock’s internationally-renowned library for the duration of your course.
Our friendly and knowledgeable library team will help to support you through your specialist CPD course, whatever your level of professional or academic experience. You will have access to an extensive range of eBooks, online journals, all the relevant key databases and our specialist audio-visual collection, plus reference access to all our print books.
Our information skills trainer has made lots of material available on Moodle to help you navigate our comprehensive electronic collections. PCs and photocopiers are available for your use (charges apply for printing and copying), as well as various online resources including audio/video playlists.
Course facilitators
-
Louise O’Dwyer
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist
Book your place today
You can book a place at any time. You’ll receive confirmation by email, and we will be in touch approximately one week before the course starts with detailed joining instructions.
CPD certificate 
