Course Fee: $875 (Canadian currency) includes ebook
This practical, informative and stimulating course will introduce the student to key counselling issues facing children and adolescents. It will also help you better understand the counselling process, will introduce and teach essential counselling skills, and will help you to develop an empathic and supportive relationship with young clients.
Specifically, this course will address the following: An overview of child development and the therapeutic relationship; play therapy and expressive techniques; family issues; grief and loss, abuse, self-harm and suicide; self-esteem, peer pressure, bullying, gender and sexual identity; understanding personality; the impact of trauma; developing emotional intelligence; understanding and resolving conflict; developing assertiveness skills and exploring different types of therapy.
SYLLABUS
Part 1
Module 1: An Overview of Child Development and the Therapeutic Relationship
Topics Studied
• Developmental characteristics from infancy to adulthood
• Attachment theory
• The qualities and characteristics of secure attachments
• The qualities and characteristics of anxious resistant/ ambivalent attachments
• The qualities and characteristics of avoidant attachments
• Establishing a therapeutic relationship with young clients
• Therapeutic activities for children and teenagers
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Classify developmental traits and characteristics.
• Apply attachment theory.
• Recommend counselling activities that are appropriate for using with children and youth.
Module 2: Play Therapy and Expressive Techniques
Topics Studied
• The theory behind play therapy
• Play therapy techniques and skills
• Popular techniques, strategies and skills for older children
• Adolescents and group work
• Developing a feelings vocabulary
• Therapeutic activities for children and teenagers
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Describe play therapy techniques and skills.
• Explain how to use REBT in their work with older children.
• Select therapeutic activities that are useful when working with children and youth.
Module 3: Family Issues
Topics Studied
• The need to be loved unconditionally and to feel you belong in the family
• The five love languages of children and adolescents
• The impact of separation and divorce
• Issues related to being raised in a single-parent family
• Issues related to being raised in a blended family
• Teaching young people good communication skills
• Therapeutic activities for children and youth
• Counsellor self-awareness: Exploring family influences
• A look at adoption
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Describe the five love languages.
• Discuss the challenges faced by children in single parent families.
• Discuss the challenges faced by children confront in blended families.
Module 4: Grief & Loss, Abuse, Self-Harm and Suicide
Topics Studied
• Counselling grieving children and youth
• Counselling young people who have been abused (either neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse)
• Counselling young people who self-harm
• Understanding suicide and working with suicidal clients
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Discuss interventions designed to support young people who have been bereaved.
• Describe the effects of abuse on young people.
• Analyse the most effective ways of supporting young people who self harm.
Module 5: Self-Esteem, Peer Pressure, Bullying, Gender and Sexual Identity
Topics Studied
• Developing a healthy self-esteem
• Special educational needs and self-esteem
• Positive and negative peer pressure
• Peer pressure and risk-taking behaviour
• Peer pressure role plays
• Bullying
• Cyberbulling
• Gender and sexual identity
• What the statistics show
• Practicing your counselling skills
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Discuss the development of self-esteem.
• Suggest ways of dealing with peer pressure.
• Propose ways of dealing with bullying.
Module 6: Eating Disorders and Substance Related Disorders
Topics Studied
• Understanding and diagnosing addictions
• Alcohol addiction
• Drug addiction
• Sexual addiction
• Internet addiction
• Diagnosing an addiction
• Drug addiction
• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa
• Binge eating disorder
• Ethical framework for good practice in counselling
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Discuss anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and binge-eating disorder.
• List the key factors that make cyber-sex appealing.
• Critique what is meant by a good standard of practice and care in counselling.
Part 2
Module 1: Who am I?
Topics Studied
• Reviewing attachment relationships
• The influence of culture
• What’s your personality?
• Birth order and personality
• Moral development in children and youth
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline the influence culture has on us, especially with respect to our identity.
• Explain the significance of early attachment relationships.
• Summarise “The 5 Factor Theory of Personality”.
Module 2: The Impact of Trauma
Topics Studied
• What is a trauma?
• Trauma and the brain
• Risk factors increasing the likelihood of trauma
• Factors which increase resilience
• Resiliency questionnaire
• Childhood traumatic grief
• How to help a child who is suffering from traumatic grief
• Resonating trauma
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the lifelong consequences of trauma
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Explain what trauma is.
• Outline what is meant by “resonating trauma.”
• Discuss the long-term consequences of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs.)
Module 3: Developing Emotional Intelligence
Topics Studied
• How do I rate on emotional intelligence?
• Self-awareness and the Johari Window
• Being aware of, and in touch with, our emotions
• The importance of self-regulation
• Challenging our faulty thoughts and beliefs
• Understanding the role of motivation
• Tips for maintaining our motivation
• Understanding and developing empathy
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Describe the Johari Window.
• Explain the importance of self-regulation.
• Suggest tips for maintaining motivation.
Module 4: Understanding and Resolving Conflict
Topics Studied
• What is Conflict?
• The Five Main Causes of Conflict
• Some Typical Responses to Dealing with a Conflict
• Understanding the Five Common Conflict Styles
• Applying Essential Conflict Resolution Skills
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Outline some typical responses to dealing with conflict.
• List five common conflict styles.
• Describe some key conflict resolution skills.
Module 5: Developing Assertiveness Skills
Topics Studied
• What is Assertiveness?
• Responding in a Passive or a Non-assertive Way
• The Role of Self-Esteem
• Why do we Struggle with Low Self-Esteem?
• Tips for Improving your Self-Esteem
• Responding in an Aggressive Way
• Effectively Handling Aggression in Others
• Are Anger and Aggression an Issue for You?
• Responding with Appropriate Assertiveness
• Some Positive Assertiveness Techniques
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Provide a definition for assertiveness.
• List factors that increase the likelihood of succumbing to negative peer pressure.
• Suggest some positive ways of handling aggression in others.
Module 6: Exploring Different Types of Therapy
Topics Studied
• Reviewing Play therapy
• Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT)
• Family therapy
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• Action and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
Learning Outcomes and Summary of Objectives
Upon successful completion of this learning module, the student should be able to:
• Describe what’s involved in using PCIT.
• Suggest ways of using DBT with older children.
• Outline ways of teaching mindfulness and meditation to children and youth.
Suggested textbook for the course (to be purchased by the student)
Vernon, A., & Schimmel, C.J. (2018). Counseling children and adolescents (5th Ed.). San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing.