EDF5540 · Children and adolescents counselling

Overview

This unit is an introduction to children and adolescent counselling and explores the childhood and teen years in which specific developmental milestones are reached. This challenging time for parents and teachers, during which children are learning about their place within the family, their school and local community, is examined. You will be assisted to understand adolescence as the period during which children begin the transition to adulthood but are still developing maturity and their identity. You will analyse how adolescents expand their horizons and move into the adult world, and the range of challenges that can present as they move towards greater independence. In addition, this unit will cover various initiatives in promoting child and adolescent mental health state. You will be exposed to creative counselling techniques for children such as play/art therapy in enhancing mental health state of children and ways to educate parents and community on preventing depression and anxiety.

Areas of study: Counselling

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. demonstrate an understanding of the major developmental milestones of children and adolescents
2. demonstrate an understanding of typical challenges faced by children and adolescents
3. promote awareness of children and adolescents mental health state
4. explore and apply creative counselling techniques for children such as play/art therapy in enhancing mental health state of children
5. educate parents and community on preventing depression and anxiety for children and adolescents
6. identify and analyse challenges faced by school counsellors
7. respond to and propose relevant counselling intervention for the mental health problems among school children
8. recognize the mental health issues of adolescents and identify the appropriate approaches to counselling adolescents.

Workload

Minimum total expected workload equals 144 hours per semester comprising: (a.) Contact hours for on-campus students: • equivalent to 36 hours of engagement in online, face-to-face or blended platforms (b) Additional requirements (all students): • independent study to make up the required minimum hours during the semester. For the unit teaching schedule, please visit the timetable.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.