07 3219 1222Children and Young Adolescents
Counselling a child requires a relationship to be established between the child and the counsellor. This is called ‘joining’. Methods employed depend on the age of the child. Counselling children and adolescents requires age appropriate communication skills and a genuine approach. There are many tools which can be used to assist in the process. These include drawing, sandplay, painting, telling stories, clay, games, play and drama.
Play Therapy.
Play Therapy is the least intrusive form of counselling for children. Thus it is to children what counselling is to adults. While it is relatively new to Australia, it is a tried and proven method in many other countries. Play is a child’s way of communicating, like talking is an adult’s way of communicating. In the playroom the toys are the child’s way of talking. When children are able to communicate or play out how they feel to a person trained in play therapy, they feel better because their feelings have been shared and understood.
Sandplay and symbols will provide opportunities for children to express their stories and emotions without the constraint of words. By providing a bridge between verbal and expressive therapies, this process is highly effective in reducing the emotional causes of difficult behaviour.
How it Helps 
These proven therapies can successfully assist children in dealing with the following issues:
- Children dealing with divorce and parent separation
- Abuse (sexual, physical, emotional)
- Parenting issues
- Fears and phobias
- Emotionality and associated problems
- Separation Anxiety
- Boundaries
- Bedwetting
- Self Confidence
- Bullying
- Transitions
- School-related Problems
If you want assistance in helping your child deal with these or other areas of concern, please contact Making the Difference and one of our fully trained counsellors to discuss the possibilities. On the basis of early intervention, counselling can be of great benefit to children and families.
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