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ICAP — Institution of Child & Adolescent Psychology

EGP 1,250Professional Development

1:1 Session Delivery: Foundations, Professional Standards & Practice

Master the foundational principles, professional standards, and applied reasoning required to facilitate impactful, neurodiversity-affirming 1:1 sessions.

Format
Self-paced
Level
Intermediate
Length
17 hours
Language
English

What you will be able to do

  • Apply the PSDR Framework to holistically understand and support a child's developmental and relational needs.
  • Demonstrate practitioner self-awareness and establish relational safety in 1:1 sessions.
  • Translate broad developmental goals into intentional, well-designed session plans using multidimensional task analysis.
  • Distinguish between target-relevant and incidental demands to reduce unnecessary barriers to participation.
  • Utilise dynamic facilitation, observation, and clinical reasoning to adapt sessions responsively in the moment.
  • Facilitate co-regulation to support meaningful participation rather than mere behavioural compliance.
  • Navigate professional boundaries, partner effectively with parents, and engage in rigorous reflective practice.

About this course

This comprehensive, evidence-informed course is designed for practitioners who design and deliver individual developmental, educational, psychosocial, or therapeutic support sessions with children and adolescents. It bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and applied professional practice, equipping learners with the foundational principles, practical skills, and reflective reasoning needed to facilitate high-quality 1:1 sessions. Drawing upon strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming, and relational approaches, the course guides practitioners through the complete lifecycle of a session—from intentional design and task analysis to dynamic facilitation, observation, and adaptation. Learners will explore CIPPO’s Psychosocial Strength-Based Developmental & Relational (PSDR) Framework, learning how to distinguish between target-relevant and incidental demands, manage their own self-awareness, and balance child agency with professional developmental intention. Through realistic scenarios, interactive decision-making tasks, and guided reflection, practitioners will develop the nuanced clinical and professional reasoning required to adapt support in the moment. The course also addresses critical professional standards, including co-regulation, effective family partnerships, ethical boundaries, and reflective practice, ensuring practitioners can safely and effectively support meaningful child participation within their scope of practice.

Syllabus

8 modules — 1 lesson free to preview

  1. Foundations of 1:1 Session Delivery & The PSDR Framework

    • Welcome to the course (free preview) Reading

  2. Practitioner Self-Awareness & Relational Safety

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  3. Intentional Design & Task Analysis

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  4. Demands and Dynamic Facilitation

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  5. Observation, Clinical Reasoning & Adaptation

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  6. Regulation, Co-Regulation & Meaningful Participation

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  7. Professional Practice, Partnerships, and Boundaries

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  8. Final assessment

    Lesson titles for this module are shown after enrolment.

Questions

Do I need to be a clinical psychologist or therapist to take this course?

No, this course is designed for a multidisciplinary audience. While it discusses clinical reasoning and standards, it respects the varied professional scopes of educators, counsellors, learning support specialists, and therapists.

What is the PSDR Framework?

The PSDR (Psychosocial, Strength-Based, Developmental, and Relational) Framework is an integrative practice framework developed by CIPPO to guide practitioners in understanding and supporting children holistically.

Does neurodiversity-affirming practice mean removing all expectations?

No. Neurodiversity-affirming practice means providing meaningful support, reducing unnecessary barriers, and respecting individual differences. It does not mean abandoning instructional structure or removing all developmental challenge.

Will there be practical examples?

Yes. The course includes realistic case studies, worked examples, and scenario-based decision-making activities illustrating how practitioners plan, facilitate, adapt, and evaluate 1:1 sessions with children and adolescents.

Who is this course for?

Practitioners working with children and adolescents in educational, developmental, psychosocial, and mental health settings.

What do I need before I start?

Basic understanding of child development. Current or planned experience working with children or adolescents in a supportive, educational, or therapeutic capacity.

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