A TRAINING centre specialising in child counselling has been recognised nationally for its work.

Therapy and Counselling Teesside (TACT) was given a glowing report by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) after a team of inspectors spent two days looking at its teaching, resources and accommodation.

Karen Davies-Hough, the clinical director of TACT, said: “We’ve been training child psychotherapeutic counsellors here since 2005 and 90 per cent of our graduates find work locally working therapeutically with children.

“According to Government statistics, parts of Redcar and the Tees Valley are amongst the most deprived in England.

"This means there is a real need to support children and young people.

“Local schools and organisations like The Junction, CATS and The Link recognise this and provide counselling to help youngsters cope with issues such as self-esteem, depression, bereavement, family problems, relationship difficulties, self-harm through to school refusal and difficulty in learning.”

The UKCP report states: “The award of full organisational membership of UKCP ensures that TACT’s programmes and graduates are nationally recognised in the profession and by the general public at large.”

TACT is expanding its training to encompass the need to work with adults, especially parents, to provide a holistic approach to the issues that children, young people and families struggle with.