About Us
Counselling Children in A New Century
Not long ago I asked a group of nine year old children if they could say what counsellors do. After a little thinking time, one replied that counsellors plant trees and count lampposts. Not a bad guess and no one laughed. The children were impressed with this innocent answer, which shows the word counsellor is not a household name to many young children.
This moment led me to further explore the neediness of young people in our society. Current trends indicate that their world is made unstable and constantly rocked by the threat of family breakdown, violence, terrorism, drugs and abuse. It makes good sense to me that we be available to them in varied professional capacities, always with their well being as the focus of our work.
Years in education showed me that although many efforts are made to educate and care for young people, there is little time given to teaching about, assisting and guiding them in their day to day emotional lives. Children need to be taught about life as it gives them scope and credibility as they develop. There is no doubt that experience is a great teacher, but in the realm of emotions, it can be very frightening if you don't know that others can feel much the same way.
That is how 'Kids Counselling' was born. A simple name for a counselling practice committed to the care of every girl and boy who seeks support. It is an invitation and incentive for young people to deal with their issues. Like adults they need and want to resolve issues which cause pain, conflict and often inappropriate behaviors. Providing them with opportunities to learn how to name their emotions, bring negative feelings to the surface and find constructive ways to deal with them is essential.
At a 'Kids Counselling' session they do so through a variety of activities including relaxation, drawing, meditation, music, symbol and emotional release work and talk. They are helped recognize that they are worthy of love and and of being loved. That love is at the heart of their well-being.
'Kids Counselling' offers opportunities for young people to be heard at a deep level, to share emotional issues, to discuss problems, to be open to life and to live more comfortably within themselves, family and society. 'Kids Counselling' offers a creative and fresh approach to counselling and children enjoy this safe time to express themselves openly. The bright, warm atmosphere of the counselling room encourages children, while providing a safe place for them to express themselves uniquely and sometimes painfully. It is a place for families to find each other, feeling reassured and affirmed.
Sometimes I think it would be very pleasant to count lamp posts and plant trees. Most of the time I wonder at the beauty of children, sent with innocence and delivered with joy. Young ones who express a boundless joy in life that is marvelously infectious. We owe them so much. Let's give them the best.
