Explain The Goals Of Counselling

What are the fundamental goals for counselling children?

We cannot obviously counsel children the way we counsel adults. It is important to be clear about the goals for counselling children.

• To enable children to deal with emotional issues
• To keep children safe.
• To enable children to feel good about themselves - self worth and self-esteem.
• To enable children to reach their potentials - self-actualization.
• To enable a child to change negative, thoughts, beliefs and behaviour.

We need to set goals with parents when they bring the child to counselling. Parental goals are usually established based on child's current behaviour. A counsellor may set goals based on their casework experience, their understanding of child psychology, current
The important elements in this relationship are congruent, empathy and unconditional positive regard. It is necessary that the counsellor works from within the child's perspective. This should be done without judgment, keeping in mind the child's values, beliefs and attitudes. The relationship needs to begin with a good rapport where trust is established. The child needs to feel fully accepted by the counsellor. Parents need to be told that their child may not wish to disclose information from the therapy session. The counsellor needs to create a safe environment where the child feels free to act out and share their feelings. They need to feel safe and confident in sharing. The counsellor needs to maintain confidentiality and the restrictions of confidentiality need to be discussed with the child at the onset. The child needs to be notified that important information might be shared with others, but with their permission when they are at risk. The child should not feel disempowered so we give them a choice: Would you like to tell your parents or would you like me to tell your parents or would you like me to be present when you tell your parents? The relationship needs to be private, secure, genuine, confidential, non- intrusive, purposeful. Counsellor's need to be particularly attentive of transference and counter-transference. Transference is said to occur when the child
The child is made to feel welcome to come back another time, if he/she commits to obeying the rules.

Maintaining Boundaries with children

Boundaries have been defined as “a set of rules that you write to govern how you allow people to treat you,” (Kuzman, 1990). Boundaries therefore define who we are and also describe our responsibilities, we are certainly not selfish for having them. Having clear boundaries in our lives is essential to all as it means knowing when to say yes and/or no to others so you can manage our life. Having clear boundaries will increase care, respect and assurance in the relationships. There are four areas of our life that need boundaries (Cloud & Townsend, 2000-2012 Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend | Summary & Study Guide
 Physical boundaries help us to set appropriate physical limits
 Emotional boundaries help us to be in control of our own emotions and not trapped into harmful and manipulative emotion of others.
 Mental boundaries give us the freedom to guard our own thoughts and opinions
 Spiritual boundaries help us to differentiate between God’s will and our own will, and taking responsibilities
Therapists would need to deal with boundary