Counselling is a special skill which one cannot acquire overnight. It is an expertise where a trained person can only carry out and listen to problems of clients and advise them accordingly.
A training on basic counselling for children was held in March this year in which 5 staff from Family Voice had the opportunity to attend.
The purpose of this training was to build the capacity of participants on how best they can work with children mainly in the area of basic counselling. The techniques and theories offered in this training could also be used when counselling adults. The training was facilitated by Pastor David Goodwin of KidReach School of Children’s counselling-Australia.
Pastor Goodwin covered four types of therapies used in his counselling sessions with children who suffer from grief, neglect, abuse, behaviour problems and trauma. The training covered topics on Issues of Confidentiality and ethics in counselling children, Case Study, Listening Skills, Person Centred Counselling, Reality Therapy/Problem Solving Mechanism, Rational Emotive Therapy, and Behaviour Modification Techniques.
“I have learnt that working with children is a bit tricky and challenging but if you master all the skills of being a good counsellor you will be able to break down walls that others cannot pull down,” said Lisa Andy (Children’s Field Officer).
Staff who have attended this training are now doing basic counselling with senior officers in schools or are sitting in to observe how counselling is done at the office.