Counselling Difficult Children

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Unique aspects of counselling difficult children (ages 4-12) are examined. Because most children are involuntarily referred, counsellors must expect resistance and accept it as a reasonable reaction. Counsellors engage children by explaining the rules of counselling and gaining informed consent. Methods for securing a commitment to change include: indirect confrontation with puppets, media or stories; paradox and reframing; modelling and role plays. Because children have little control over their environment, it is suggested that therapeutic change be facilitated and maintained by enlisting the aid of significant others.