Counselling & Consulting
Services Tasmania
0419 175 948
info@ccstas.com.au
Considerations for Counselling Children
Childhood is a period of intense development and change - growing up is tricky business.
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Children have to navigate a world of big emotions and experiences, often without the words or tools to fully express what they are going through. Our approach to counselling children is built on creating a safe, nurturing space where they can explore their feelings, build inner resilience, and develop essential coping skills.
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We tailor strategies to each child's unique developmental needs, and use creative and playful methods to foster trust and connection. Whether working through anxiety, behavioural challenges, or emotional regulation, we support each child and their families with practical, evidence-based strategies that will help them thrive.
Parent Involvement
If your child is under 16 years, the first session will be a parent meeting. We'll also sometimes request that we have parent update meetings. Why?
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So you have the opportunity to provide background information and context without young ears listening in, and so your child doesn't have to hear loved ones talking about them in a way they may perceive as negative.
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Because human brains aren't fully developed until our mid-20s, so we cannot expect children to remember strategies or do them correctly and consistently without help, especially when it comes to emotions.
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Because when a child has challenges, quite often the most effective strategies are the loving adults in the life doing some things differently - not because you are doing things wrong, but because in this situation and in this moment in time, something for your child isn't working.
Confidentiality
We believe that children have a right to the same level of privacy and confidentiality that adults do, and we are committed to protecting the trust we build with young clients. As part of establishing that trust, confidentiality will be explained to your child so they know that this is -their- safe space. We will also explain the limits of confidentiality, so that your child can understand that if we are concerned about their or another's safety, we will have to speak with others about that.
While we understand that parents and caregivers play an important role in their child's wellbeing, we also respect a child's right to share their thoughts and feelings in a protected space - the same as any client. We take care to balance confidentiality with the need for open communication, ensuring that any necessary information is shared in a way that respects the child's autonomy and maintains their trust.
We may do this by:
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Encouraging and supporting the child to speak with you about any concerns or issues themselves.
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Suggesting that we bring you into the room for a mutual discussion.
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Asking the child for permission to speak to you outside of session.
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