Course Description
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic theory and practice of some counselling skills with the purpose of building relationships with children and youth. The course will emphasize the development of professional helping relationships, active listening skills and empathy. From the perspective of Child and Youth Care and Youth Justice Work, students will learn ways of supporting clients to explore their challenges and to respond to related feelings. Culture and worldview will be viewed as essential elements for understanding and responding to children, youth and families.
Course Content
The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:
- The development of a positive working relationship, with the use of certain counselling skills, is central to engaging children, youth, and families.
- Child and Youth Care practitioners seek self-awareness, including the impact of their cultural experience on their assumptions and responses. Likewise, the CYC practitioner seeks to understand the influences of past experiences and cultural contexts on the behaviour and worldview of youth.
- The elements of respect, genuineness and mutuality are core elements in the relationship-building process.
- Creating a working relationship with children and youth is holistic and systemic; it takes into account all aspects of the individual and all of their important contexts.
- There are multiple ways of, and theories about, developing a working relationship and supporting children and youth as they move towards change.
- Relationship-building with children and youth is developmentally sensitive. Ways of engaging children and youth are shaped to fit with, and promote, their emotional, social, intellectual, cultural and physical development.
- The process of relationship-building with children and youth is aimed at the development of insight and understanding of self, others, and the relationship between self and others with the goal of enabling children and youth to interact more effectively with their important systems.
- The process of building relationships with children and youth is skill-based. Effective Child and Youth Care practitioners understand the use of certain counselling skills and uses them intentionally while remaining genuine and personal in their interactions with youth. Building professional working relationships with children and youth is dynamic and includes discussion, activities and other approaches.
Means of Assessment
This course will conform to the Douglas College Evaluation Policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations.
Typical evaluation will include:
- Written assignments
- Skill demonstration through audio and video recordings
- Small and large group participation and discussions
This is a graded course.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Practice ethical behaviour within the classroom context by honouring confidentiality and implementing the principles of Child and Youth Care (CYC) ethical guidelines.
- Explore the impact of self awareness on the practice of CYC.
- Demonstrate within the classroom context, an awareness of relational and certain counseling skills with respect to cultural diversity.
- Discuss the elements and stages of at least one model of growth and change.
- Examine the impact of realities such as internalized shame, trauma, oppression, and personal histories of both CYC practitioners and the children and youth with whom they may work.
Textbook Materials
Course materials and/or textbooks approved by the department.