Child Abuse Counselor
Explore the Child Abuse Counseling career...
A career in child abuse counseling means working with children in a variety of clinical or private settings using a number of interventions, interventions that will likely center on some form of the most common type of therapy used for abuse victims - play therapy. (see Child Abuse).
Counseling Resources
Because play is familiar to children, it's a zone of comfort that permits child abuse counselors to approach victims in a nonthreatening environment. When children play, they feel safe. They don't respond to simply talking and listening to an adult talk. (see also Childhood Developmental Psychology).
Using Props
Hugging a doll or favorite stuffed animal, or blanket, is a way to calm their fears and anxieties; and they dramatize trauma and abuse by symbolically setting up fantasy worlds, using structured or unstructured play situations, artwork, music, puppets, or clay. Their stories emerge as they set up parallel worlds to their own, allowing the counselor to observe and hypothesize, and begin to piece together an appropriate treatment plan.
In this safe setting, children can experience challenging emotions and traumas in stages, allowing them also to find ways to adapt to these traumas and regain a sense of control in their lives. As the relationship between counselor and child matures, the child senses unconditional acceptance, and begins to build new worlds, ones that offer hope and promise. The counselor addresses any maladaptive behaviors that could put the child at risk for further abuse, and even possibly future mental health issues.
Educating caregivers
And once the counselor has a solid understanding of the child's issues and needs, then educating the child's protective caregiver, or caregivers, becomes imperative. Counselors also support caregivers in implementing the treatment plan, which takes many weeks or months, and involves many frustrations and setbacks - even in the most loving and accepting environments. The counselor becomes a teacher as well as therapist, advising the child and caregivers about the course of recovery, which challenges both the child and caregiver at each major developmental stage - from starting school, to the teen years, dating, self-sufficiency, and parenting.
The child abuse counselor also conducts group sessions for abused children. Young children, for example, benefit from participating in developmental play groups. And children and youth who are sexually abused benefit from group counseling, seeing that they are not alone, and processing their feelings of shame and guilt with others who feel the same.
Victim's of sexual abuse, depending on the child's age, and the type and extent of abuse, also benefit from different therapeutic techniques. These techniques, ranging from psychotherapy to trauma-focused play therapy, and trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (see Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), guide victims through processing the experience to normalizing reactions. The counselor works with the child to develop healthy coping patterns while addressing associated conditions of depression (see Depression), anxiety (see Anxiety), panic attacks (see Panic Disorder), and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder (see PTSD).
Biofeedback, eye movement desensitization, and relaxation techniques are also tools that the counselor employs when working with sexually abused children and youth. When appropriate, the therapist also counsels the family, or individual family members, on adaptive strategies for overcoming abuse, and developing healthy family functioning.
Careers in child abuse counseling require a strong background in psychology as well as experience in working with victims of abuse. This career changes the lives of children and families, requiring a high level of maturity, empathy, acceptance, and patience. Those who work in this field say it's one of the most challenging careers, but also one of the most meaningful and satisfying for a person who truly wants to make a difference.
If you want to impact the lives of children and youth, get started on a career in child abuse counseling. A master's or PhD in psychology, counseling or social work is required. Request information today from schools offering these degrees.