Program Overview

Programme in Counselling Children and Adolescents

Overview

The Programme in Counselling Children and Adolescents is designed to equip adults working with children, adolescents, and families with basic counselling and communication skills, as well as informal assessment strategies. This programme aims to support young people who experience psychosocial, emotional, and behavioural challenges.

Target Group

This programme will benefit adults working with young people, including:

• Teachers
• Counsellors
• Psychologists
• Parents
• Therapists
• Others with an interest in children and adolescents

Admission Requirements

• Senior Certificate or an equivalent NQF level 4 qualification

Programme Details

Duration

• One year

Language Medium

• English

Purpose Statement

The purpose of this programme is to equip adults working with children, adolescents, and families with basic counselling and communication skills, as well as informal assessment strategies, to enable them to support young people who experience psychosocial, emotional, and behavioural challenges.

Modules

PCCA01F - The Theory of Counselling

Content:

• Introductory issues in counselling
• Personality theories
• Counselling models and the development of an integrative model for counselling young people
• Ethical aspects of counselling
• Psychological health and behaviour
• Communication: self-concept and communication style, effective communication and listening skills

PCCA02G - Parent Guidance

Content:

• Nature of parent guidance
• Parent guidance and effective parenting models
• The family as primary education unit
• Parenting styles
• Parents with special needs: step-parents, foster parents

PCCA03H - Human Development and Problem Behaviour

Content:

• Stages in human development
• Educational dilemmas and problem behaviour
• Ethical considerations and HIV/AIDS counselling to the family
• Counselling families and bereavement counselling
• Parenting skills for child-headed households

PCCA04J - Skills for Counselling Children and Adolescents

Content:

• The counselling process
• Ethical boundaries when counselling children and adolescents
• The interview: a practical model
• Helping the young person to tell his/her story: counselling techniques
• Communication skills
• The writing of a referral report