Counselling the Children

To Dr Fung, children’s mental health is more than just absence of mental illness. The children must feel good about themselves, relate well with their significant others and caregivers and peers. They are also protected.

There are difficulties in detecting mental health problem because children may not complain or they may have difficulties talking about feelings. Their acting out are seen as naughty and sometimes withdrawn behaviour is missed. And most times parents are having problems.

About 10% of children have some form of mental health disorders. Children may suffer from different types of mental health problems in the form of disturbances in development, feelings, behaviour or relationships. Behavioural disorders are more common than emotional disorders. Depression is rare in children. Mental health problems in children are associated with multiple risk factors, the most significant being lower intellectual ability and parents being single, divorced, separated, widowed or deceased.

When counseling a child, talk about culturally appropriate topics. Explain to the child the purpose of counseling while building rapport with him/her. With some understanding of the developmental phase of the child, the needs are being assessed. I will learn the likes and dislikes, strength and weaknesses of the child. By being observant I engage with the child and establish the therapeutic alliance.

When talking to the children, my sentences have to be short, clear and simple. My tone has to be calm and reassuring. My words should ideally be positive. It will help to use open questions and rephrase if necessary. One good technique to ensure comprehension will be to ask the child to repeat rather than ask ‘Do you understand?’ I need to give time for the child to speak before starting new ideas or feelings.

When the children don’t want to talk, play and art therapy should then be used. Let the child do his own activities in my presence. Listen to what he says verbally and non-verbally. Acknowledge with statements of understanding before giving advice. Validate the child’s feeling. Let the child know how I feel and then provide supportive therapy. Medical treatment should flow from diagnostic formulation of psychopathology from a developmental perspective.