Counseling Children and Adolescents

Contact Information

Allison Edwards, LPC, RPTallisonedwardslpc@gmail.comwww.allisonjedwards.com615.397.2245

Structure and Focus of Class

PracticalFocus on Techniques & ToolsInteractiveA-Z of Counseling Kids

Child Development

Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development The Sensorimotor Stage -

intelligence appears from sensory perceptions and motor activities. Children begin to develop the concept of separateness. (birth-3)

The Preoperational Stage - a child will react to all similar objects as though they are identical. Self-centered thinking. Me, myself, and I. (Ages 4-7)

Piaget cont.

The Concrete Operational Stage - children begin to reason logically. Loss of egocentric thinking (Ages 7-11).

The Formal Operational Stage - formulate hypotheses and test them to answer problems. Abstract thinking. Ability to reason (Ages 11 - adulthood if reached at all).

Applying Piaget in Working with Kids

Pre-Operational Stage: What we expose kids to: News, violence, adult information

Pre-Operational Stage: Consider when helping them understand their behavior. Kids under 11 aren’t good at reasoning.

Pre-Operational Stage: When teaching empathy. Kids under 11 are egocentric. Aren’t able to think about others. Their needs come first.

Concrete Operational: When working with behavior. Kids begin use reasoning to outsmart their parent and peers.

Picture of 9/11 – Pre-Operational

Areas of Development

Physical – how a child looks in comparison to his peers.

Intellectual – how a child thinks in relationship to his peers.

Emotional – how a child feels in relationship to his peers.

Asynchronous DevelopmentA 6-year-old with Asychronous Development can look like this:

Physical Development – 6

Intellectual Development – 9

Emotional Development – 4

Or this…

Physical Development – 5

Intellectual Development – 6

Emotional Development - 8

Discrepancies in Development

Physical Development – 6

*Intellectual Development – 9

Emotional Development – 4

- Often the case with gifted kids

- Intellect takes kids places they aren’t ready to go emotionally

- Emotional Development needs to be raised to decrease the discrepancy

Emotional Literacy

The ability to understand your emotions, the ability to listen to others and understand their emotions and the ability to express emotions appropriately.

1. Know your feelings

2. Have a sense of empathy

3. Learning to manage emotions

4. Repairing emotional damage

5. Emotional Interactivity – putting it all together

Considerations in Working with Children

Media/Exposure

Family Structure

Amount of Connection around Emotions in the Home

Social Development

Academic Issues

Outside Activities

Adolescent Development

Adolescent Development

Mike Riera – Staying Connected to Your Teenager

Two Phases of Life Wrapped into OneRegressed Child – comes out at homeEmergent Adult – what the world sees

Both are present during transitions

Six or Sixteen Syndrome – have a meltdown but then ask to use the car

Developmental ConsiderationsIdentity Development – Who Am I?

Abstract Thinking – Can argue with parents effectively. Can see multiple sides of a situations

Peer Influence – The Second Family by Ron TaffelThe Second Family is the peer group. Parents

connect with their kids by getting to know their peer group.

Sleep/Wake Cycles – The most effective time for teenagers to communicate is between 9-12 PM. Teenagers are 8 hours behind on sleep by Friday.

*When you’re not rested, your IQ is cut in half.

The Adolescent Brain2 Main Areas of Brain Aren’t

Developed until early 20’s:

1 - CORPUS COLLOSUM – connects the right and left hemisphere together

2 – PRE-FRONTAL CORTEX – CEO of the brain

The Adolescent Brain

Implications

Adolescents want to be adults but can’t think like adults

Are physically as big as parents but intellectually delayed.

Irrational Thinking

Impulsivity

Longing for Independence

Family Development

Generational Parenting Baby Boomers – (1946-1964) experienced the

highest divorce rate in history. Both parents worked thus many kids became “latch key” kids.

Gen X – (1965-1979) Mothers got their college degree but chose to stay home. Currently 25% of moms spend 12 plus hours a day on child care, TWICE that of Boomer moms.

Dyamic has shifted from mom’s getting affirmed by bosses to being affirmed by other parents for their kids performance.

Changes in the Family SystemCurrently 54% of marriages end in

divorce

20% - 40% of men and 10% - 25% of women will have an affair during their marriage.

For children under 5, 20% of dads were the primary caregiver.

3 million children are being raised by same-sex couples

The Role of the Counselor

How Most Kids End Up in Counseling

#1: Behavior - child often gets blamed for having bad behavior.

#2: School Issues - poor grades, behavior, getting calls from school.

#3: Change in Behavior - Children are saying/doing unusual things.

Traits of Good CounselorsFocus on strengths as well as

weaknesses.

Understand child development.

Know how to connect with kids.

Are good at balancing the parent/child relationship.

Are energetic and playful.

Can provide an atmosphere of non-judgement and safety.

Primary Role of the Counselor:

Child Advocate

Even though you work with parents, schools, doctors, etc. Your responsibility is to the child. When you jeopardize your relationship with the child, you are no longer effective.

The School Counselor

Job Description

Expert in everything

Part of the system: teachers, psychologists, specialists

See the child’s world

Referrals - when and how

Making it your own

The Clinical Counselor

The clinical hour

Getting parents invested

Delicate balance of information

Maintaining records

Treatment planning

Staying the course

School vs. Clinical Settings

Statistics 50% clinical time spent on counseling17% school time spent on counseling

Not Always the CasePublic vs. Private SchoolAdministrator ValuesInsurance vs. No Insurance

Parent Consent

Access to Records

Scope of practice

Special Considerations in Working with Kids

have verbal Limitations

live in moments - lack of perspective

have ups and downs from session to session

go in and out of emotional work very rapidly

often don’t know reason for referral

In Counseling, Children…

Benefits of Working with Kids

- Progress is much faster

- Behaviors aren’t as ingrained

- You can help the whole system

Challenges of Working with Kids

Children still have to live in the system

Parents can be difficult

More preparation/materials required

It takes more energy

What Works with Kids?

Play Therapy - non-directive with 3-6

Prop-Based Interventions 6-10 101 Favorite Play Therapy Techniques

Combination of Direct vs. Indirect Play Therapy

Expressive Therapies 5 and upArt TherapySandtray Therapy

What Works with Adolescents?Relationship

Patience

Understanding of Adolescent World

Direct Approaches - CBT

Aligning

Humor

EthicsResponsibility and Client Welfare

- seeing a client too long

Confidentiality - Parents, schools, pediatricians

Professional Relationships- What are my colleagues doing? - Peer supervision- Dual relationships

Things to Consider in Working with KidsWho is the client?

- Technically both

Diagnosis- What you see or what you hear?

Drugs/Alcohol

Suicide

Courtroom- Parent intentions