Lecture Slides Child & Youth Counselling PDF

 Referral/ Ethics Assessment/ Closure Goals Therapeutic Relationship/ Work Safety 2  You have just received a new refer...

 Referral/ Ethics Assessment/ Closure Goals Therapeutic Relationship/ Work Safety 2  You have just received a new referral for nine-year-old Sally The referral was made by Sally’s father, Fred, who is concerned about her behaviour when she returns home from her mother’s house During your initial meeting with Fred he remains elusive about Sally’s mother, only stating that they have been separated for some time Fred isn’t comfortable disclosing information about the custody of Sally and has specifically asked that her mother not be contacted However, he did share that Sally spends every second week at her mother’s. He has not provided any contact details for Sally’s mother 3  Relevant Legislation UN Convention on the Rights of Children Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Limits to Confidentiality Child, Family and Community Service Act Informed Consent Infants Act 4  WHAT TO DO? Remain calm Listen Believe Safety considerations Report Find support 5 Unique characteristics of children and youth Developmentally different: Cognitively Emotionally Physically Psychologically All about adapting and modifying assessment & therapeutic techniques What is the child or youth’s level of understanding? Information must be congruent with development  Are they able to self-reflect? How are their problem solving skills? What is their processing style? What is their attachment style? Are they able to self-regulate? Without abstract reasoning, difficult for children and youth to: Generate alternative course of action Predict outcomes Comprehend cause and effect Resolve some moral issues 9 Abstract reasoning required, tends to imply blame Not so much: “Why do you yell at the teacher?” More helpful: “What happens before you yell at the teacher?” 10  Secure Avoidant Ambivalent Disorganized 11  Anxiety & depression Self-harm, suicide ideation Emotion & behaviour Trauma dysregulation Eating disorders Grief & loss Substance use Relationships Sexual behaviour problems Sexual orientation, gender Violence, aggression 12 Fundamental Child/Youth’s Parent’s Counsellor’s Goals Goals Goals Goals 13 Children and youth lack control over aspects of their existence, lack of autonomy leads to viewing adults in roles of authority such as: Provider, rule maker, disciplinarian, advice giver Clarify your role and responsibility for your client 14  Techniques much less important than the quality of the therapeutic relationship, the relationship is the change agent Authenticity (congruence) and unconditional positive regard are key The process of joining, how individuality is presented, much more personal process than with adults 15  Staying with child/youth’s perceptions Unique, special relationship All about safety (flexible structure) Authentic, genuine Confidential Non-intrusive Purposeful (with intent) 16  Children have emotions, ideas, relationships bigger than their vocabulary With varying degrees of verbal abilities, children use everything else to communicate feelings and needs Alternate techniques to verbal counselling: Play therapy Sand therapy Art therapy Bibliotherapy Journaling Dance therapy Music therapy Wilderness therapy Car therapy (northern approach) Animal-assisted therapy  Drawings, paintings, sculptures, play used to represent emotions, ideas, relationships by children and youth No interpretation used, child or youth uses picture, painting, etc. as model to understand their world Suggest not leading or interpreting, just listen Nondirective Directive Client-centered Structured Children capable of leading the Therapist-centered process 20 What were some of your favorite childhood toys/games? 21  Concrete vs abstract Need to use media/medium that works for them Children need to be with their caregivers, so family work is important, using a systems approach is often required 22  Children process through play Let them play and play with them Gently ask questions as they come up  Dollhouses, animals, figurines, stuffies…… Puppets Books Sand Instruments Games 24  Providing a space to just BE themselves May not look like “traditional” counselling Things you can do together: Games Art Youtube Music Be outside Fix things / build things Poems/writing/quotes  For both children and youth: Boundaries Consistency Transparency and honesty A little more self-disclosure than normal 26 They are not children and they are not adults Need to respect developmental needs and adjust counselling approach accordingly, respect the individual Not as dependent on their family, changing relationship Have more advanced cognitive processing, need to respect level of maturity if suggesting media or activities  Navigating the impulses and Handling conflicts/decisions desires of the adolescent brain from the limbic system “Body betrayal” Peer acceptance vs. rejection Evolving selves Shifting allegiances Autonomy/control Inadequate coping strategies Identity confusion 28  Presents with behaviours, emotions that are considered problematic Considers relationship with counsellor Using various media, shares story Through media, gains understanding May deflect, avoid, resist (pacing) 29  View of self may change through understanding Considers options and choices Experiments with new emotions/behaviours Moves to new adaptive functioning or returns to beginning with new issue What makes working with children and youth interesting … 32  Confidentiality Lots of people desperately trying to help or “fix” the young person, and want information on your sessions Balancing need to collaborate while protecting confidentiality and client’s best interests Abrupt endings Working with multiple people, agencies and institutions 33  Opportunity to be with someone who is heavily in the process of creating their ideas about the world, meaning of life, and identity Fun and sense of humour Youth are very honest and share an incredible depth of learning 34 Booth, R. & O’Brian (2008). A holistic approach for counsellors: Embracing multiple intelligences. Int J Adv Counselling, 30. Carmichael, K.D. (2006). Play Therapy: An introduction. Pearson Education. Ferentz, L. (2023). Working with the cycle of self-destructive behaviours in traumatized clients. PESI. Geldard, K., & Geldard, D. (2010). Counselling adolescents: The proactive approach for young people (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications. 35