Counselling of Children and Young People

Counselling of Children and Young People

Introduction

Children are not merely miniature adults, and are considered to be a special counselling population (Corey, Corey, & Callahan, 2003). Youth counselling is a term used to describe both counselling and psychotherapeutic support to assist children and young people to address and overcome developmental challenges, psychological obstacles and traumatic life experiences - promoting self-belief, enhancing self-insight and building resilience. This is a contractually agreed relationship that is voluntarily entered into by both the client (children and young person) and an appropriately trained and supervised counsellor. It is offered within clearly defined parameters and underpinned by a professional code of ethics and practice for counsellors.

This paper will compare key theories of relevant to counselling to children and young people. Further, it will discuss issues and boundaries in counselling of children and young people along with the mitigation of risks and issues in counselling of children.

Discussion

Counselling of Children and Young People

The same rigorous application of standards and codes of ethics should apply for counselling young people as it does for adults. However, it is also generally recognised that engaging in counselling work with children and young people will present significant differences from counselling adults. A thorough understanding of development and family dynamics are critical components in preparing to work with children (Lawrence & Kurpius, 2000).

Boundaries around responsibility and accountability may be less clear cut and will be significantly affected and maybe challenged by working contexts which may impose contractual obligations around sharing information, note-taking and policies, for example, on child protection and drug abuse. Counsellors need to be aware of issues of legal responsibility in, for example, confidentiality, consent and human rights.

Liaison with other interested and concerned parties including parents and referral agencies may be an important part of the work, and many counsellors may be expected to work systemically, offering group work to selected client groups and feedback to organisations. Another significant difference which counsellors may need to address is that, living in the family or institutional structure, young people may hold very little actual power in terms of choice and possibilities for change.

Counselling young people may mean working with some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The client group are more likely to present in highly charged emotional states and it is possible to encounter high risk problems such as suicide and self harm. Resistance to engage in the process is not uncommon. Counsellors may have to overcome issues around accessibility of counselling including practical environmental issues as well as emotional and developmental issues of young people.

Counsellors have to face issues around limitations to counselling competences and expertise and the need for assessment and referral. When working with young people, the need for consultancy and advice in areas like mental health problems and confidentiality is required in addition to supervision.

Consequently, the counsellor's knowledge base has to be quite wide and include knowledge about the nature of childhood, adolescence and emerging identity, cultural influences and anti-discriminatory practice ...