Child and youth therapy uses methods and tools that are effective in treating children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems. It is a type of psychological intervention that aims to enhance the emotional and social well-being of patients at these ages.

As we explained in our article “Child therapy: what it is and what are its benefits”, child and youth therapy differs from therapy with adults not so much in the objective of the interventions but in its methodology. For example, using a therapeutic approach known as play therapy.

Best child therapy courses

These differences mean that psychologists must specialize in this area of psychotherapy in order to make effective diagnoses and interventions. Fortunately, there are different training alternatives that aim to train therapists so that they can become experts in child and youth therapy.

But, what are the best training actions in child and youth therapy? In the following lines you will find a ranking with the best courses in this specialty of psychological therapy.

1. Educating in Emotional Intelligence: workshops for children and their parents (TAP Center)

The TAP Center: Advanced Psychological Treatment is an organization dedicated to the field of psychotherapy from a multidisciplinary team of professionals, and is located in Madrid. It has a wide range of training programs, and in this one it teaches the youngest and their parents to master the fundamentals of emotion recognition and the regulation of affective states.

To see Centro TAP’s contact details and find out more about their courses, click here.

2. Expert in Child and Adolescent Clinical Psychology (Universidad Jaume I)

This training program, taught by the University Jaume I of Castellón, provides rigorous and scientific knowledge on child and youth therapy. It is aimed at those clinical psychologists who wish to acquire the necessary functional skills to be able to intervene effectively in children, adolescents and their families.

Its programme is eminently practical, and addresses all the psychological, relational and social problems that appear most frequently at this age. In recent times, clinical consultations related to child and adolescent mental health problems have increased, so it is necessary to have specialized professionals with the knowledge and practice necessary to address these problems in the most effective way.

3. Advanced course on school bullying (European Institute Campus Stellae. IESC)

Bullying is a phenomenon often referred to in the media as bullying . This problem is real and serious, and brings with it many psychological consequences for the victims of these abuses. In this sense, the figure of the child psychologist is of great importance both in the prevention, evaluation and intervention of this phenomenon.

Psychologists who wish to specialize in combating this phenomenon can opt for the IESC’s “Cursor superior de acososos escolares”, which provides a great deal of knowledge and practical skills to its students. The participants can do internships in different renowned institutions, such as the Federal Executive Commission of the PSOE, the UN Women Italian Committee, and the Sustainable Development Foundation (FUNDESO).

4. Certificate in Attention Disorders (ADHD): Identification, Evaluation and Treatment (University of Valencia)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder that has a prevalence of between 5% and 10% of children and adolescents. There are several types as explained in our article “Types of ADHD (characteristics, causes and symptoms)”.

Specializing in this disorder is key to making a good diagnosis and treatment, because it is often a complex phenomenon. The University of Valencia offers a training certificate for all those Graduates in Psychology , Psychopedagogy and Education who wish to study this disorder in depth and thus be able to intervene with the maximum guarantees.

5. II International Course on Child Clinical Psychology (AEPC)

The Spanish Association of Behavioral Psychology (AEPC) in Cantabria offers the possibility of studying a specialization degree in Clinical Child Psychology. This training is recognized as being of health interest by the Department of Health of the Government of Cantabria, and is accredited as a continuous training activity for health professionals of the same institution.

The course is taught by a large group of experts in this field. The students delve into the advances in assessment and intervention in child psychotherapy and put into practice different techniques and tools that will help their patients achieve well-being. Without a doubt, a very useful training to acquire both theoretical and practical knowledge in this specialty.