Course Description

This programme provides an advanced professional foundation in addiction studies, integrating neurobiological, psychological and psychoanalytic perspectives. It is not a full specialist training in addiction medicine, psychiatric treatment or any single addiction-treatment modality. It does not qualify participants to practise outside their existing scope of competence. Learners should apply the material within their existing professional role, training background and ethical responsibilities.

The course is particularly relevant for professionals who encounter addiction, compulsive behaviour or dual diagnosis in their work. Learners are encouraged to seek appropriate supervision, further specialist training and referral pathways when working with acute withdrawal, medical complications, safeguarding concerns, severe psychiatric comorbidity or presentations requiring specialist addiction or medical services.

The Freudian and Lacanian material included throughout the programme is presented as substantive theoretical content central to this course's advanced, psychoanalytically informed orientation to addiction. These concepts should never be used to impose interpretation prematurely or to replace evidence-informed, collaborative and client-centred care. Instead, they support listening carefully to speech, repetition, desire, and the symbolic or relational meanings that may shape the relationship, all held alongside humility, ethical restraint, and appropriate supervision.

Learners should understand that addiction work can raise difficult and sometimes distressing material, both clinically and personally, and that the client's safety, consent, pace and lived experience must remain central throughout. Compassionate, psychoanalytically informed practice can enrich assessment and support when held alongside evidence-informed practice and clear professional boundaries.

Teaching is delivered live online and includes lecturer-led input, case discussion, breakout-room case studies, skills practice and reflective exercises. Learners are expected to actively engage with the live sessions, Moodle LMS materials, self-directed reading, reflective tasks and assessment preparation. The programme supports students in developing not only academic knowledge but also professional judgement, ethical reasoning, self-awareness and the capacity to work confidently and reflectively with addiction.

The course may support continuing professional development for counsellors, psychotherapists, trainees, social care workers, healthcare professionals, educators, psychologists, supervisors, community workers and allied professionals. Students should consult the lecturer, course leader or academic registry office if they require clarification regarding accreditation, assessment, attendance, professional pathway requirements, suitability, scope of practice or progression.

This programme welcomes practitioners, students and members of the public alike. Practitioners already working in counselling, psychotherapy, healthcare, education or social care are encouraged to use the course to consolidate and extend their existing knowledge of addiction studies through advanced psychoanalytic perspectives. Students working toward a qualification in counselling or psychotherapy will find the course a rigorous foundation that complements their wider studies. Members of the public, including those with a personal interest in this area of study, are warmly encouraged to enrol.

The College recognises that learners come to this subject from diverse personal and professional backgrounds, and the course is designed to be rigorous and meaningful regardless of prior experience. Reflective exercises, case discussion and skills practice are structured to support learners at all levels, while maintaining the academic depth expected of an Advanced Professional Diploma for Level 8/9 CPD learners. Learners are encouraged to engage honestly and thoughtfully with the material, and to seek appropriate support, supervision or further training where relevant to their personal circumstances or professional development goals.

This programme is a professionally developed programme designed to support emotional wellbeing, build psychological resilience, and cultivate a deeper sense of compassion—both for ourselves and others.

Developed in partnership with MindfulnessUK, the CMR Course integrates core principles of mindfulness, compassion-focused therapy, and resilience training. Participants are guided through practices and reflections that foster greater awareness, self-kindness, and emotional balance in the face of life’s challenges.

This 4-week course is ideal for individuals seeking to:

• Manage stress, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm

• Build inner strength and self-compassion

• Deepen their mindfulness practice

• Enhance overall psychological wellbeing

Our trained teachers are listed on the official MindfulnessUK Trained Teachers Register. You can verify our credentials here:
👉 View our registration on the MindfulnessUK Trained Teachers Register

The Professional Diploma in Child & Adolescent Mental Health is designed for professionals who work with young people and want a deeper, evidence-based understanding of their emotional and psychological development. The course explores how children and adolescents think, feel, and behave, and how family, school, community, and online environments influence their mental health.

You will be introduced to key mental health difficulties commonly seen in childhood and adolescence, such as anxiety, low mood, behavioural challenges, neurodevelopmental conditions, trauma-related difficulties, and emerging risk behaviours. Emphasis is placed on early identification, understanding underlying causes, and knowing when and how to refer on for specialist support.

Throughout the diploma, you will develop practical skills in communication, engagement, and relationship-building with children, teenagers, and families. You will learn how to have sensitive conversations about mental health, how to respond to distress, and how to provide safe, supportive, and boundaried help within your professional role.

The course draws on current research, real-life case examples, and reflective practice. Teaching is typically delivered through lectures, workshops, group discussions, and guided self-study, allowing you to link theory directly to your day-to-day work.

This diploma is suitable for teachers, SNAs, social care workers, youth workers, nurses, counsellors, social workers, and other allied professionals. By the end of the programme, you will have increased confidence in recognising mental health needs, collaborating with families and services, and contributing meaningfully to a young person’s support network.

Graduates leave with a strong foundation in child and adolescent mental health theory and practice, ready to apply their learning in schools, community settings, health and social care, or further specialist study.