COUNSELING
CHILDREN
Aps 423: Counselling children and adolescents
FAITH MASAMBIA
,WORKING WITH CHILDREN
We cannot counsel children in the same way that we counsel
adults.
We counsel adults by sitting down with them and inviting them to
talk with us.
If we were to try to use the same strategy with children, many of
them would say nothing except to answer direct questions.
If, as counsellors, we are to engage children so that they will talk
freely about painful issues, then consideration of other strategies
in conjunction with verbal counselling skills is important.
, For example, we might involve the child in play, or in the use of media su
as miniature animals, clay or various forms of art.
Alternatively, we might involve the child in storytelling, or take them on a
imaginary journey.
As a consequence of combining the use of verbal counselling skills with th
use of media or some other strategy, we are able to create an opportunity
for the child to join with us in a therapeutically useful counselling process
We, as counsellors, provide the child with the environment in which to
undergo therapeutic change.
, GOALS FOR COUNSELLING
CHILDREN
Before becoming a counsellor for children it is important to have an underst
of the nature and purpose of counselling children.
This includes being clear about our goals and to have clear ideas about how
goals can be achieved.
The achievement of goals is not only dependent on the media used and on t
style of working, but is critically dependent on the child–counsellor relations
What do you think the most important goals should be, when counselling ch
Should the specific goals for an individual session or a series of sessions be
the counsellor, or by the child’s parents or guardians, or by the child? What
think?
CHILDREN
Aps 423: Counselling children and adolescents
FAITH MASAMBIA
,WORKING WITH CHILDREN
We cannot counsel children in the same way that we counsel
adults.
We counsel adults by sitting down with them and inviting them to
talk with us.
If we were to try to use the same strategy with children, many of
them would say nothing except to answer direct questions.
If, as counsellors, we are to engage children so that they will talk
freely about painful issues, then consideration of other strategies
in conjunction with verbal counselling skills is important.
, For example, we might involve the child in play, or in the use of media su
as miniature animals, clay or various forms of art.
Alternatively, we might involve the child in storytelling, or take them on a
imaginary journey.
As a consequence of combining the use of verbal counselling skills with th
use of media or some other strategy, we are able to create an opportunity
for the child to join with us in a therapeutically useful counselling process
We, as counsellors, provide the child with the environment in which to
undergo therapeutic change.
, GOALS FOR COUNSELLING
CHILDREN
Before becoming a counsellor for children it is important to have an underst
of the nature and purpose of counselling children.
This includes being clear about our goals and to have clear ideas about how
goals can be achieved.
The achievement of goals is not only dependent on the media used and on t
style of working, but is critically dependent on the child–counsellor relations
What do you think the most important goals should be, when counselling ch
Should the specific goals for an individual session or a series of sessions be
the counsellor, or by the child’s parents or guardians, or by the child? What
think?
