CHILD PSYCHOLOGY
CHILD COUNSELLING A
PRACTICAL VIEW
,1. INTRODUCTION
A child psychologist is an expert in childhood development who works with children
and adolescents to diagnose and help resolve issues that cause emotional or
behavioural problems. Child psychology is important because it can help us better
understand how kids tick as well as how best to support them to become well
rounded individuals. Areas of child psychology include;
Physical development refers to physical body changes. This generally
occurs in a relatively stable, predictable sequence. It also includes the
acquisition of certain skills, such as gross-motor and fine-motor coordination.
Cognitive or intellectual development, refers to the processes children use
to gain knowledge. This includes language, thought, reasoning, and
imagination.
Social and emotional development are so interrelated that they are often
grouped together. Learning to relate to others is part of a child’s social
development, while emotional development involves feelings and the
expression of feelings. Trust, fear, confidence, pride, friendship, and humour
are all part of one’s social-emotional development.
However, this notes covers all aspects in child counselling or rather child therapy,
which includes a detailed content on the practical guidelines and process of child
counselling.
, 2. THE GOALS OF COUNSELLING CHILDREN
All of these goals are important and have to be kept in focus during the therapeutic
process. However, at various times during the process some goals need to have
preference over others. How this is achieved is the responsibility of the counsellor.
Level 1 Goals: Fundamental Goals
These goals are globally applicable to all children in therapy. They include the
following:
To enable the child to deal with painful emotional issues.
To enable the child to achieve some level of congruence with regard to
thoughts, emotions, and behaviours
To enable the child to feel good about themselves
To enable the child to accept their limitations and strengths and to feel OK
about them
To enable the child to change behaviours which have negative consequences
To enable the child to function comfortably and adaptively within the external
environment (for example at home, and at school)
To maximize the opportunity for the child to pursue developmental milestones
Level 2 goals: The parents` goals
These goals are set by the parents when they bring their child for therapy. They are
related to the parents` own agenda and are usually based on the child`s current
behaviours.
Level 3 goals: Goals formulated by the counsellor
These goals are formulated by the counsellor as a consequence of hypothesis which
the counsellor may have about why the child is behaving in a particular way. Clearly,
when formulating hypothesis about the possible causation of child behaviour,
counsellor will draw on information from their own casework experience, from their
theoretical understanding of child psychology and behaviour, and from their
knowledge of current research and the relevant literature.
CHILD COUNSELLING A
PRACTICAL VIEW
,1. INTRODUCTION
A child psychologist is an expert in childhood development who works with children
and adolescents to diagnose and help resolve issues that cause emotional or
behavioural problems. Child psychology is important because it can help us better
understand how kids tick as well as how best to support them to become well
rounded individuals. Areas of child psychology include;
Physical development refers to physical body changes. This generally
occurs in a relatively stable, predictable sequence. It also includes the
acquisition of certain skills, such as gross-motor and fine-motor coordination.
Cognitive or intellectual development, refers to the processes children use
to gain knowledge. This includes language, thought, reasoning, and
imagination.
Social and emotional development are so interrelated that they are often
grouped together. Learning to relate to others is part of a child’s social
development, while emotional development involves feelings and the
expression of feelings. Trust, fear, confidence, pride, friendship, and humour
are all part of one’s social-emotional development.
However, this notes covers all aspects in child counselling or rather child therapy,
which includes a detailed content on the practical guidelines and process of child
counselling.
, 2. THE GOALS OF COUNSELLING CHILDREN
All of these goals are important and have to be kept in focus during the therapeutic
process. However, at various times during the process some goals need to have
preference over others. How this is achieved is the responsibility of the counsellor.
Level 1 Goals: Fundamental Goals
These goals are globally applicable to all children in therapy. They include the
following:
To enable the child to deal with painful emotional issues.
To enable the child to achieve some level of congruence with regard to
thoughts, emotions, and behaviours
To enable the child to feel good about themselves
To enable the child to accept their limitations and strengths and to feel OK
about them
To enable the child to change behaviours which have negative consequences
To enable the child to function comfortably and adaptively within the external
environment (for example at home, and at school)
To maximize the opportunity for the child to pursue developmental milestones
Level 2 goals: The parents` goals
These goals are set by the parents when they bring their child for therapy. They are
related to the parents` own agenda and are usually based on the child`s current
behaviours.
Level 3 goals: Goals formulated by the counsellor
These goals are formulated by the counsellor as a consequence of hypothesis which
the counsellor may have about why the child is behaving in a particular way. Clearly,
when formulating hypothesis about the possible causation of child behaviour,
counsellor will draw on information from their own casework experience, from their
theoretical understanding of child psychology and behaviour, and from their
knowledge of current research and the relevant literature.
