Working with children workshops
What will I learn?
Child abuse and neglect workshop is for participants who want to gain knowledge and insight into what constitutes child abuse and neglect in today’s society. The ability to recognise the signs that suggest a child/young person is being harmed or at risk of harm. The workshop will provide information on current legislation and confidentiality within in the context of child abuse and neglect concerns.
What will the workshop cover?
- explore what is child abuse and neglect
- give an understanding in the legal rights and protections when reporting concerns about a child or young person
- provide the opportunity to discuss dilemmas participants may face when working with children and young people
- look at strategies for dealing with specific situations and what to do if a child/young person starts to disclose abuse
Is this right for me?
This workshop is suitable for anyone who works with or volunteers with children/young people and/or their families.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- recognise the signs of abuse and know what to do if maltreatment is suspected
- understand the implications for the worker’s relationships with a child/young person or their parents, if they report their concerns
- understand confidentiality within the context of child abuse and neglect and who information belongs to
- respond appropriately to a situation where a child discloses abuse
- understand current legislation and what it means if you are a mandated reporter
- identify your rights and obligations if you report child maltreatment
What will I learn?
This one day interactive workshop balances theory and practice for those who work in a therapeutic, educational or care capacity with children who have experienced family and domestic violence. Family and domestic violence is a traumatic event for the majority of those who have experienced it.
What will the workshop cover?
- the impact of family and domestic violence on children and how to support children in the recovery process
- give an overview of the neurobiology of trauma
- identify trauma behaviours in children and the meanings behind them
- how to respond to trauma behaviours in a way which is trauma sensitive
- participating in practical/experiential activities that will assist in working therapeutically with children who have experienced family and domestic violence
Is this right for me?
This course is suitable for any professional or carer working with children.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- understand the effects of family and domestic violence on parental attachment
- identify the effects of family domestic violence on brain development in children
- identify family domestic violence as a traumatic event and how this impacts on the child in their everyday life and behaviour
- work in a trauma sensitive way with children affected by family and domestic violence
- provide practical therapeutic interventions in working with children traumatised by family and domestic violence
What will I learn?
This two-day workshop will focus on how to therapeutically engage with children and relate to them in their own language, which is play. Non directive play therapy techniques, such as tracking, reflecting and therapeutic limit setting will be explained and practiced. There will be plenty of opportunity to explore and practice projective techniques such as drawing, sand tray and clay work. Core issues such as how to conduct an assessment with parents and children, confidentiality, duty of care and developing a relationship with the child’s caregiver will be discussed. The focus will be on individual play therapy with children aged 4-12 years old, but most techniques can be transferred to family and group work.
What will the workshop cover?
- the different types of play used when working therapeutically with children
- projective techniques
- how to conduct an assessment with parents and children
- duty of care of the practitioner
Is this right for me?
The workshop is designed for social workers, counsellors, psychologists, chaplains, teachers etc. who would like to transition to working with children. The workshop will also be helpful for people already working with children, who would like to learn more about play therapy.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- work from a child focused perspective
- engage with parents/caregivers in a respectful way without breaking confidentiality
- conduct a thorough assessment with children and their parents
- facilitate the child’s exploration of his/her experiences, feelings and thoughts using a range of therapeutic tools and techniques
- facilitate the process of children experimenting with and mastering new skills
- apply basic non directive play therapy techniques such as of tracking, mirroring and therapeutic limit setting
What will I learn?
This interactive two day workshop will explore the dynamics of sexual abuse by both adult, non-sadistic sexual offenders and children or teenagers who engage in sexually inappropriate activities with other children/adolescents. There will be plenty of opportunity to explore and practice intervention techniques.
What will the workshop cover?
- the impact of sexual abuse on children, young people and their families
- how to conduct an assessment
- different therapeutic interventions used when working with children and young people
- the legal process and safety planning and protective behaviours
Is this right for me?
The workshop is designed for social workers, counsellors, psychologists, chaplains and teachers who are new to the field of working with sexual abuse or who would like to learn play therapy techniques, specific to this field of practice.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- understand the dynamics of child sexual abuse
- increase their insight into the impact of child sexual abuse on an emotional, cognitive, relational, behavioural and physical level
- conduct a thorough assessment with children/adolescents and their parents
- develop an intervention plan for sexually abused children and adolescents
- facilitate recovery from experiences of child sexual abuse using a range of therapeutic tools and techniques
- use experienced therapeutic tools specific to processing sexual abuse
What will I learn?
This one day workshop explores the developmental, therapeutic and ethical issues encountered when working with children whose parents have separated. With a particular focus on therapeutic models, processes and activities that can support children to cope with the stresses they experience in relation to parental conflict, separation and divorce.
What will the workshop cover?
- how to work in a child focussed model
- engaging and building rapport with children and young people
- different activities to support children and young people with the stress of separation
- how parental conflict impacts on children and young people
Is this right for me?
The workshop is suitable for any professionals who work with children aged 5 – 18 and wish to gain greater understanding of the complexities involved with children when their parents separate.
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- have developed an understanding of current research related to the impact of separation on children
- have a greater understanding of working in a child focussed manner
- be able to practice therapeutic activities and develop skills for working with children whose parents have separated
- gain a more rounded view of family break down and how this impacts all family members
- be able to assess the child’s suitability to attend counselling
- be able to work effectively with parents to ensure the child’s best interests are held at all times