Like adults, children and young people also are sometimes in need of emotional support from an independent person who can assist them to discover and/or release emotions that are being held in or locked away. Often, this occurs when they feel that they need to protect or not hurt those closest to them and they feel unable to communicate (ie. times of bereavement or family separation when loyalties may be challenged) or they could just be experiencing feelings that they do not understand from internal or external events which raise feelings of being vulnerable, angry or scared, therefore resulting in behaviour changes, mood swings etc.
Children can also experience painful feelings at school which may present as classroom or playtime difficulties, examples of this may come from incidents of bullying or being bullied, or peer pressure to ‘fit in’, sometimes leading to withdrawal, regression or adapted behaviour patterns. These emotional difficulties can be explored during counselling, where the child is safe and free to address their issue at their pace, supported and facilitated by the counsellor in order for the client to work through these emotions, gaining self-understanding and an awareness of personal strengths and limitations.
Counselling through both talking and the use of creative methods can help the child or young person gain an improved understanding of their feelings and emotions in the here and now and in the past, working towards helping them develop better coping strategies and personal wellbeing. Children are encouraged to self-direct their sessions, choosing their own media with which to work, creating empowerment and acknowledging individuality and personal choice from the outset.