Attachment, Trauma and Mental Health (Children, Young People and Adults) PGCert
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Course Summary
Sitting within the School of Education, this course investigates the impact of attachment, adversity, trauma and mental health difficulties, equipping professionals with the skills and knowledge to support children, young people and adults across all settings. The course will be delivered in person at our Weekend Schools (Exton Park, Chester), or live online Thursday afternoon sessions (Distance Learning).
All three modules are underpinned by theory to support a critical understanding of key research and current debate in a rapidly growing field. There are regular opportunities for reflection on professionals' own practice and experience. We explore the role attachment has in developing the child's inner working model of themselves and how this may influence their view of the world, including the relationships they have with others. We discuss how traumatic experiences can affect the brain development of young people and consider how this may impact on their ability to learn within an education setting. The impact insecure attachments and traumatic experience can have on mental health and behaviour are also explored. Bringing the theory together, we consider the role of the professional in mitigating the impact of these experiences through relational approaches. We explore attachment-aware, trauma-informed practices and how they can be used to nurture positive relationships and environments for the young person or adult. We consider how these practices enable the development of resiliency skills to maximise the potential for positive outcomes.
Our postgraduate course attracts professionals from a wide range of backgrounds including those outside of education. This enables discussion and sharing of experiences which are facilitated by staff in a supportive environment. The University provides a range of support teams, both academic and pastoral, during your time here.
Staff expertise
Flexible learning
Contemporary knowledge and theory
What you'llStudy
There are three 20-credit modules. The modules follow a theme reflecting professional context and individual interests. The modules can be studied in any order. These modules will be of interest and relevance to those working with children, young people and adults with an interest in the causal factors of presenting behaviours.
Module content:
1. An exploration of the theories of emotional development.
2. A consideration of how early attachment and separation impact on personality development.
3. Understanding how attachment theory informs professionals understanding of the behaviour of children, young people and adults.
4. A critique of new research about how a brain develops through relational experience.
5. A re-conceptualisation of the received understanding of challenging behaviour
Module aims:
1. To critically explore how early parenting experiences and familial relationships impact on personality development.
2. To understand and reflect on how attachment relationships impact on learning and behaviour in children, young people and adults.
3. To examine how early life experiences influence brain development and consider how this may impact on thinking, learning and behaviour.
Module content:
1. A deconstruction of pervasive trauma viewed from a range of professional perspectives
2 An examination of how pervasive trauma impacts the brain and how this manifests in perception and behaviour
3. A conceptualisation of Trauma Informed Practice taking into account current educational systems and practices
4. An exploration of participants case study evidence in their professional practice
Module aims:
1. To conceptualise pervasive trauma in childhood using medical and social model perspectives.
2. To understand and critically reflect on how childhood trauma has a lifelong impact on the brain in terms of how atypical perception develops and how this manifests in behaviour
3. To explore and critique Trauma Informed Practice from objective and subjective perspectives
4. To develop an in-depth understanding of how Trauma Informed Practice can contribute to improved life outcomes for children, young people and adults
Module content:
1. An exploration of the theories of resilience.
2. A consideration of the relationship between resilience and mental health.
3. A critique of new research about models of resilience.
4. Understanding how an improved knowledge of mental health informs professionals’ understanding of the behaviour of children, young people and adults.
5. An evaluation of the research about the impact of adverse childhood experiences and how such early experiences impact on resilience, mental health, behaviour and life outcomes for children, young people and adults.
6. A re-conceptualisation of the received understanding of challenging behaviour resulting from poor mental health.
Module aims:
1. To explore and critically reflect on how life experiences and relationships impact on mental health and resilience.
2. To understand and reflect on how mental health impacts on learning and behaviour.
3. To critically examine how childhood mental health impacts on brain development and consider how this may impact on thinking, learning and behaviour.
PGCert Attachment Trauma- University of Chester
Sarah Collins
Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead
Debbie Ravenscroft
Senior Lecturer
Clare Holmes
Senior Lecturer
Sarah Shaw
Senior Lecturer
Entry Requirements
2:2 honours degree
Entry requirements for the course are normally a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree from an undergraduate degree.
Applicants will normally be working in, or aspiring to, a role in supporting Children, Young People and Adults, or wishing to acquire specialist knowledge and skills. It is possible for applicants who are not in work to undertake the programme through a combination of university-based taught modules.
2:2 honours degree
Entry requirements for the course are normally a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree from an undergraduate degree.
Applicants will normally be working in, or aspiring to, a role in supporting Children, Young People and Adults, or wishing to acquire specialist knowledge and skills. It is possible for applicants who are not in work to undertake the programme through a combination of university-based taught modules.
English Language Requirements
For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.
The location
Modern learning resources and library
Student Services
Fitness facilities
Chapel, chaplaincy and multi-faith spaces
Accommodation
Catering
Fees and Funding
£2,925 per year (2025/26)
Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses in the academic year 2025/26 are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page.
£TBC per year (2025/26)
The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate programmes in 2025/26 are £15,000.
The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.
For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.
Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.
Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.
If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.
The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.
Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.
Your Future Career
Careers service
The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.
Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.
We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs and postgraduate study.