Whether you’re a parent wanting to gain more understanding of your child’s psychological development needs, a social worker, seeking specific counselling training to further their expertise in dealing with family situations involving children, or a professional educator needing to broaden knowledge of their charges’ psychology, this is for you.

Your study begins with a detailed investigation of the stages of growth and development, and the factors affecting them, both positive and negative. Childhood is all about growth, and there are key transitional stages, some of which are triggered by events such as starting education, beginning to forge relationships outside the family, moving to a new school and passing through puberty. All of these, and more, are explored in detail.

Unfortunately, the incidence of family problems, from “routine” domestic issues such as the breakdown of parents’ marriage, to the complexities of various forms of abuse, is an ever-present and increasing issue in society. These aspects are also considered in some detail in the manual.