There are many forms of disabilities that can affect the child’s normal developmental process. Some disabilities can be more severe than others. A common type of disability hindering a child’s development is a learning disorder. Having such a disorder can be painful for children as they have to deal the disconnections they may be experiencing […]
Children
Overcoming Problems with Step Children
We have previously talked about preventative measures such as scheduling family meetings, formulating rules and rituals, and how to discipline and communicate with our children and step-children. But what happens when we have done all these things, and problems still occur? Sometimes the route of all evil can be jealousy. There are many players in […]
- August 14, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Loss & Grief, Relationship & Families
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Building Relationships with Step Children
One of the most common reasons for not-so-good step-family relationships is lack of communication. It is important to include the children in family processes such as formulating rules and new rituals. This is a great start! The next thing to do is to encourage communication. Talking is the best way to strengthen relationships, understand emotions […]
- August 13, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Discipline with Step Children
As a step-parent, sooner or later you will be reminded by your step-child that you are not their parent. One very important item to discuss between your partner and yourself is “who disciplines who?” In coming to a decision on discipline it is helpful to look at nuclear families who equally share this role. In […]
- August 10, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Stages of Child Development
As children travel through the journey of life they are faced with many different developmental challenges. Early in life, babies learn to pay attention and be part of a relationship. As they grow they learn to use their imagination and think logically. Greenspan and Salmon (1995) developed a road map outlining the emotional milestones children […]
- July 7, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Lifespan Development
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Counselling Dilemma: A Family “Break-Up”
The client, Helen, is 56 years old. She has been happily married for 32 years to Barry, who works for the local council. Helen and Barry’s first child, a boy, was stillborn. Helen fell pregnant again very quickly to help get over the loss. They now have two adult daughters, Vicky and Sharon. Vicky, the […]
- May 28, 2009
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- Counselling Dilemmas, Relationship & Families
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Dealing with Aggressive Children
Children with aggressive behaviour constitute one of the most common and difficult challenges for parents, particularly for young parents. To work on this issue it is crucial that parents have developed a relationship (with the child) based on solid communication and trust. Parents must be willing to take a step back from the situation and […]
- March 2, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Creativity in Counselling, Relationship & Families
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Child Abuse and Neglect: Case Planning and Review
With the assessment complete, the next step to ensure that the needs of the child and family are met is case planning. Essentially case planning is the process of setting goals and building in strategies to meet those goals. The counsellor must work with the child and/or family to decide upon the goals that are […]
- February 2, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families
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Child Abuse and Neglect: Intervention
There is not a clear cut off line from where the assessment ends and the intervention begins in child and family work. Following is a number of approaches to intervention that have been selected because they are consistent with values of self-determination, respect, dignity empowerment and social justice: values commonly drawn upon in child and […]
- January 28, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Theory & Process, Relationship & Families
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Child Abuse and Neglect: Assessment
Assessment is the core function for counsellors in child and family services. It begins with efforts to engage a child and family in order to build a working relationship where you as the counsellor can encourage participation rather than resistance. The assessment requires the counsellor to make sense of all the information sh/e is given […]
- January 23, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Diagnosis & Treatment, Relationship & Families
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Recognising When a Child is at Risk
There are behavioural cues that alert the counsellor to the possibilities of a child being abused; different indicators are associated with the different abuses. Remembering that the indicators mentioned here are not absolute and that one behaviour that the child displays may not mean they are abused or neglected. There are four recognised forms of […]
- January 13, 2009
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Supporting Children Victims of Abuse and Neglect
Identifying and reducing the stressors that put a family at risk can be important opportunities to assist families in overcoming the abusive home environment. While it has already been mentioned that the stressors of socio-economic status are a major underlying contributor in some families due to the added stresses of poverty, isolation and drug and […]
- December 24, 2008
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Consequences of Abuse and Neglect for Children
Whatever the cause of the abuse and/or neglect, it can have long-standing consequences for the child. The younger the child, and the more vulnerable they are, the more serious the consequences are likely to be, however, with early intervention children can recover from abuse and neglect. When the abuse is ongoing or long term it […]
- December 20, 2008
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Series: Working with Children at Risk
As stated in The Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2004 edition of Identifying and Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect, the sad facts are: There are four recognised types of child abuse: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional/psychological abuse, and neglect. Children and young people are most often abused by a parent or a carer. The […]
- December 16, 2008
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- Children & Adolescents, Counselling Theory & Process
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Dealing with Negative Child Behaviour
The very basis of socially acceptable behaviour is clear communication from parents. Often parents will simply call out in a stern voice: “Jane” and expect the child to understand this command. But Jane could be shoving cake in her mouth with both hands while watching TV. So which behaviour is her parent referring too? Depending […]
- October 29, 2008
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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