As interest and training in counselling children and young people continues to grow, it is essential that counsellors are equipped with the skills to work with this client group. In this book, Lorraine Sherman draws on her years of experience in the field to provide a practical resource for qualified and trainee counsellors, providing them with the necessary skills to ensure best practice with children and young people.
Distinguishing between working with young children and with adolescents, skills covered include: - establishing a therapeutic relationship - assessing a young client - contracting - counselling practice - understanding and maintaining confidentiality and disclosure.
Using case studies and examples to help demonstrate skills in action, this is essential reading for anyone planning to become or already engaged in the helping professions with young people.

About the Author vii

Acknowledgements viii

Introduction 1

Who is this book for? 1

1 Preparing for the Journey 5

Heart of practice - the therapeutic alliance 5

Basic competencies needed to begin 14

Liaising with adults 17

Theories into practice 19

Skills with different age groups 22

2 Assessing a Young Client 29

Dilemmas in assessment 29

Skills in completing assessment 'forms' 31

Assessing suitability for counselling 35

Including adults in referral processes 40

3 Deepening and Developing Counselling Skills 53

Skills in relating 54

Core elements of counselling skills 55

Developing the relationship 70

4 Extending Modalities to Counsel Children and Young People 81

Initial training 82

Integra rive 83

Cognitive-behavioural 84

Psychodynamic 91

Person-centred and humanistic 95

Systemic 99

Narrative 100

5 Skills in Managing Professional Issues: Confidentiality and Disclosure, Agreements and Contracts 103

Confidentiality and disclosure 104

Explaining to parents/carers about confidentiality in counselling 107

The legal framework 111

Gillick competence 112

Agreements and contracts 116

6 Skills for Resolving Ethical Dilemmas 121

Applying the BACP Ethical Framework 122

Understanding child protection 130

School counsellors — independent or part of a pastoral team? 137

Children and young people online — ethical practice and skills 138

7 Skilful Play for Counsellors 143

Gaining confidence and ability with play 144

The play journal 145

Non-directed or directed play 148

Different modalities' approach to play 148

Adapting play methods to fit the circumstances of counselling 154

Choosing play materials 157

A counsellors play kit 160

8 Using Supervision Skilfully 165

Preparing for supervision 166

One-to-one supervision - good practice do's and don'ts 170

Group supervision 171

The shape of supervision: Managerial, Educative and Restorative 173

When we think we haven't acted well or have got it wrong 175

Celebrating success 182

Index 184

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