They may be young and they may be small but children are very vulnerable to life’s stressors. Child counselling may make an incredible difference in how a child learns to accept, understand and deal with these stressors. Choosing the correct counsellor for your child is essential. Here are some of the aspects that need to be considered.
Choosing wisely
Just as not all adults are the same, it is no different with children. An important step in finding the right counsellor for your child is to meet and speak with them. Get a feeling and trust your instincts. No one knows your child as well as you do and you want to find the best chemistry possible.
Recommendations from trusted friends or school advisors are a good way of connecting with a reputable child counsellor.
Child counsellors must be able to deal with a child based on their age and developmental level. It would not make sense to treat a five year old as you would a 12 year old.
It is crucial for a good counsellor to possess the skills of listening and speaking. Be conscious of your childís reaction to sessions with the counsellor you choose, have them meet before the initial child counselling session.
Child counselling should incorporate the use of tools that children relate to such as toys, art supplies, books and dramatic play. Does the counsellor use these items when interacting with your child?
The reasons for child counselling are many, but include personal illness, family illness, sexual abuse, difficulty is socialization and learning.
Though there are many different approaches to counselling, one of the most respected and effective is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This form of therapy helps children to recognize that the way they think causes feelings which in turn become actions or behaviour. A good child counsellor will likely use many aspects of CBT in the treatment of children.
The main goal of counselling for children, as with adults, is to learn to cope with the issues they are facing. Children need to be given a chance to be heard. They need to learn that they have strengths and be able to build upon them.
In child counselling, these are the goals to be established between the child and the professional. Once that bond is formed and lines of communication and trust are created an avenue to healing can be built. We often forget how wise children are; they are intuitive, sensitive and absorb information like sponges.
Child counselling timed appropriately can mitigate problems later in life. Finding the right partnership between child and counsellor is the first and most important move towards that very goal.
