Counsellor’s Role with Children (6%)

[Dave]

1. What should the pastoral counsellor’s role be in working with children with counselling needs? (2 points)

2. What is one of the ways you have learned about in the content covered that you can begin to use when talking with children at risk? (4 points)

Discuss both topics in 2-3 sentences each.

[Obedience017]

1. The pastoral counselor’s role in working with children who need counseling is to provide a safe, supportive environment where the child feels comfortable expressing their feelings. The counselor should use age-appropriate methods, such as play or art, to help the child communicate and process their emotions while offering spiritual guidance to help them navigate their struggles.

2. One effective method learned is the use of storytelling, particularly using biblical stories, which can help children gain new perspectives and make spiritual connections. This method allows children to see their situations within the broader context of faith, offering them hope and a sense of meaning as they work through their challenges.

[Collins Omondi]

1. Pastoral counselors help children with troubles by creating a supportive environment that is sensitive to meet the needs of children without prejudice. Promote cognitive, emotional and social development in a healthy and safe environment, to offer a private, secure environment where to discuss issues, and they integrate spiritual practices and tools

2. Pastoral care and storytelling explains the use of Bible storytelling in counselling: …telling stories to children is a method of sharing with them new and different perspectives on life, a goal of pastoral care of children. Telling biblical stories accomplishes this within the particular framework of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Through these stories, we pass on our faith by giving children the opportunity (1) to use our heritage as the context for processing their response to a crisis, and by helping them (2) to make religious interpretations and gain spiritual insights from this same tradition.

[Collins Omondi]

1. Pastoral counselors help children with troubles by creating a supportive environment that is sensitive to meet the needs of children without prejudice. Promote cognitive, emotional and social development in a healthy and safe environment, to offer a private, secure environment where to discuss issues, and they integrate spiritual practices and tools

2. Pastoral care and storytelling explains the use of Bible storytelling in counselling: …telling stories to children is a method of sharing with them new and different perspectives on life, a goal of pastoral care of children. Telling biblical stories accomplishes this within the particular framework of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Through these stories, we pass on our faith by giving children the opportunity (1) to use our heritage as the context for processing their response to a crisis, and by helping them (2) to make religious interpretations and gain spiritual insights from this same tradition.

[nelsonbradley@live.com]

1. Role of the Pastoral Counsellor in Working with Children
They should make a safe, respectful, and loving space for children to express their feelings. Create a place of familiarity and this can be through games, use of toys and creative arts. They should use simple language, be patient, and provide both emotional and spiritual support while also working with the child’s family and other helpers.

2. Approach for Talking with Children at Risk
Playing or creative activities help create a comfortable space. This helps them express their feelings more easily and makes it less scary to talk about what they are going through.

[Mignon Duvenhage]

1. Firstly, it is important to be available to children as children will often share with those they have a relationship with and that seem available when help is needed. This would include checking in on children’s ministry, camps or activities where children are involved and having conversations with them informally. Once entering a more formal counselling agreement, the counsellor should create a safe place where children are able to share without judgement and where a responsible, loving adult can help guide them towards the future, decisions etc. One example would be in grieving, to help children come to terms with the finality of death and allowing grieving to take place.

2. Play is such an important part of a child’s life and can be a useful tool in helping children to express their feelings in a non-pressured way. This also helps to build relationship between the counsellor and the child. Art is another way for children to express their emotions, desires, hopes and dreams. The counsellor can gain insight by asking children to explain their picture after drawing. Bible storytelling is another effective tool. Valuable insights and lessons can be learned from the lives of Bible characters that children can apply to their own lives. Written words eg. letters written to people that have hurt the child or a form of a diary entry can be powerful in helping the child express what is currently in their heart.

[Collins Omondi]

1. Pastoral counselors help children with troubles by creating a supportive environment that is sensitive to meet the needs of children without prejudice. Promote cognitive, emotional and social development in a healthy and safe environment, to offer a private, secure environment where to discuss issues, and they integrate spiritual practices and tools

2. Pastoral care and storytelling explains the use of Bible storytelling in counselling: …telling stories to children is a method of sharing with them new and different perspectives on life, a goal of pastoral care of children. Telling biblical stories accomplishes this within the particular framework of our Judeo-Christian heritage. Through these stories, we pass on our faith by giving children the opportunity (1) to use our heritage as the context for processing their response to a crisis, and by helping them (2) to make religious interpretations and gain spiritual insights from this same tradition.

[Samuel Moodley]

thanks all,
yes counselling children involves being creative and sometimes creating a distraction for them to open up.
i recall counselling children at a school in East London and i would make the kids draw while asking questions .

[Author]

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