Child and Young Counselling Report

This report examines the application of developmental theories and attachment styles in child and young counselling. It analyzes the contributions of Erikson, Piaget, and Kohlberg, explores the implications of different attachment styles, and provides a case study of a young client named Tim, applying Erikson's theory to understand his behavior and suggest treatment strategies.

Child
and
Young Counselling

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
PART 1 ...........................................................................................................................................1
Critical evaluation of the contribution of developmental theories provided..........................1
PART 2............................................................................................................................................4
Discussion of implications of a young client’s attachment style provided............................4
PART 3 ...........................................................................................................................................6
Conceptualise the case by applying development theory. .....................................................6
Description of how the application of this developmental theory helps in treatment ..........6

INTRODUCTION
Counselling refers to professional assistance and guidance to resolve personal or
psychological problems. It includes therapist advices, exercise or activities that to be done in
order to resolve the matter or issues. The report discusses about different attachment style and its
implications. It discusses critical evaluation of development theories in context to case study.
PART 1
Critical evaluation of the contribution of developmental theories provided.
Development theories refer to a collection of philosophies that states about desirable
change in society and the best way to achieve it (Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial
Development. 2018). They draw attention of people to a variety of social science, disciplines and
approaches (Scholnick, 2013). There are three forms of development theory which is been
divided into Emotional, Cognitive and Moral Category. According to Scholnick, 2013 these
theories are developed by developmental theorists which are; Erik Erikson, Jean Piaget and
Lawrence Kohlberg, Freud's Psychosexua Developmental Theory and many more.
Emotional Theory:
Erik is one of the famous psychologist who developed one of the most popular and
influential theories of development. According to Scholnick, 2013 Erikson's has formed this
theory in a chronological order in which scholar unfold various aspects which lead to
psychosocial development. The stages include:fold various aspects which lead to pshycosocial
development (Ife, 2012). The stages include: Trust vs Mistrust: This period is concerned with infancy through the first one or two
years of life. Qualities of trust developed in a child is through; nurturing, handling and
loving him/her. Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt: It takes place during early childhood which is normally
between age of 4-8. Those children who meet the development crisis are tends to feel
more secure and confident (Mahony, Klimchak and Morrell (2012) . Initiative vs Guilt: It take place during pre-school years and to children who are
successful at this stage and feel capable and able to lead others. Inferiority vs Industry: At this stage children between age of 6- 12 can develop
inferiority complex. Successfully management by parents at this stage leads to strength

known as competence, in which children develop a belief over their abilities to handle
tasks set before them (Ife, 2012).

 Identity vs Confusion: This take during the period of adolescence, where children
explore their independence and develop their sense of self. Those who Eileen, remain
unsure of their beliefs and desires feels insecure and confused about themselves. Intimacy vs Isolation: It covers the period of early adulthood where people explore
personal relationship (Ife, 2012). Stagnation vs Generativity: Those individuals who are successful; at this stage feel that
they are contributing to the world by being active in their home and community.
 Integrity vs Despair: It occurs at old age and is focused on reflecting back in life.
As, Erik Eriksons Theory states that those children who are being encouraged by parents
and teachers develop a sense of competence but this not hold true in the case.
Illustration 1: Erik Erikson Emotional Theory
Source: Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development.2012
Cognitive:
Jean Piaget proposed the theory about nature and development of cognitive development.
It deals with nature of knowledge and how human gradually come to acquire construct and use it.

Piaget viewed cognitive development as a progressive reorganization of mental processes
resulting from biological maturation and environmental experience (Ife, 2012).
Jean Piaget has placed cognitive theory into four phases of life which includes: Sensorimotor Stage: It starts from the birth of child and the child reaches to age of 2
years. It ends on the fact that infants' analysis the world through their sensation and
movements. They realize that action taken by them causes things to move in the world
(Mahony, Klimchak and Morrell, 2012). Preoperational: It begins after the completion of the Sensorimotor. At this Stage
children begin to learn through books which includes words and pictures. They struggle
with idea of constancy. Concrete Operational: This stage takes place when children reaches to the age of 7 years
and begin to think logically about concrete events.
 Formal: At this stage the adolescent and young adult begins to think and reason about
hypothetical problems (Ife, 2012).
Further, modification of stages to analyze the intelligence or cognitive behavior of
children by Piaget was not proper as he neglected the development of young children. Piaget has
formed this theory on experimenting of seriation with sticks he found whereas this stage allows
children to experiment on real objects (Hennessey, Davies and Fuller, 2012).
Moral :
Lawrence Kohlberg is an American psychologist and educator known for developing
moral theory. This theory includes different stages which are as follows:
Pre-conventional- Obedience and Punishment Orientation: This is an initial stage of theory it emphasizes
on making a child obedient without punishing him or her. (Hennessey, Davies and
Fuller, 2012).
 Exchange and Individualism: This laid stress on to judge the morality of situation; for
example; person steel money to feed his hungry children then action taken is morally
wrong.
Conventional Interpersonal Relationship: It lays emphasis on building on interpersonal relationship
which can be beneficial in growth of child.

 Maintaining Social Order: it means to respect authority and follow rules and regulations
formed by them.
Post-conventional Individual Right: At this stage person looks to fulfill his or her own right have been
fulfilled or not.
 Universal Principles: It is the last stage of moral reasoning of the person is considered
universally accepted ethical principle which are being followed or not in the development
of child.
Lawrence Kohl berg has applied his theory on the group of school boys in order to know
about change in behavior pattern of children Here he did not discuss the attitude of child
behavior rather he focuses on adult reaction to the situation. (Mumford and Roodhouse, 2012).
PART 2
Discussion of implications of a young client’s attachment style provided.
Attachment theory states that a strong emotional and physical attachment to at least one
primary caregiver is critical to personal development (Hennessey, Davies and Fuller, 2012). It
is an affectionate bond shared between human beings and they rely on it at the time of danger,
illness or vulnerability. In the field of counseling and psychotherapy Bowlby's attachment
theory is acknowledged and implemented. This theory was founded by John Bowlby in 1958,
and model states that attachment is described as a long lasting psychological connection with a
meaningful person that cause pleasure while interacting and soothes in times of stress (Boud and
et. al., 2014).
Young clients could be explained in terms of two different phases; Adult attachment
Anxiety and Adult Attachment Avoidance.
 Young clients Anxiety: It refers to fear of interpersonal rejection and abandonment.
(Patterson, 2012).
 Adult Attachment Avoidance. Avoidance style involves denying attachment needs,
suppressing thoughts and emotions related to attachment. It is characterized by reluctant
to trust and rely on others and also denotes fear of intimacy.
The attachment style is the way through which a person connects and relates to other
person. There are four distinct attachment style that are found in human irrespective of their age
group which are as follows; Secure, Anxious-Preoccupied, Dismissive-avoidant and fearful-

avoidant (Patterson, 2012). . Understanding style of attachment is helpful because it offers
insight into how one feel and developed in childhood. It helps in creating a understanding of
children behavior by analyzing or observing them. (Charnes and et. al., 2013). The implications
of four attachment style are described below: Secure Attachment: This style of attachment arises from warmth, affection and
responsive individual gets from other person. Securely attach people tend to have positive
view of themselves and their attachment. These people often respond with greater
satisfaction and adjustments in their relationships than other people with different
attachment style. People who formed secure attachments in childhood have that same
attachment in adulthood (Patterson, 2012). . This style is applied then it help therapist to
easily engage in counseling of people when they suffer from any illness, addictions or
other social issue. According to (Patterson, 2012) This is because young clients who
poses secure attachment style are free to describe their issues and problems to his/her
counselor and apply the remedy suggested by its therapist for better engage in treatment. Anxious-Preoccupied: People with this form of style attached from high levels of
intimacy, responsiveness and approval from their counterparts. They seek reassurance
and approval from others or their friends or family. Therapist needs to be more careful
while dealing with this form of style as people with insecure attachment may use
different coping strategies to manage difficulties of life which are associated with
increased distress (Friesen and Besley, 2013). Counselor needs to be more patient while
addressing them as client may refuse to share its issues and avoid any further interaction
(Patterson, 2012). . Dismissive-avoidant: Those individuals who have this pattern of attachment have higher
level of independence. People with this style often view themselves as self-sufficient and
invulnerable to feelings of close attachment with others. These individuals tend to avoid
stressful situation through distancing themselves and also suppress their feelings in front
of others. When these individuals undergo any counseling they tend to poses harsh
behavior and isolates themselves. According to (Patterson, 2012) when a therapist or
medical when do counseling of young clients with this attachment style, focus on
building emotional bonding with service users(Cunningham, Dawes and Bennett, 2012) .

 Fearful-Avoidant: Individual who grew up with disorganized attachment build fearful
and avoid ant behavior. They often underwent certain trauma, sexual abuse in childhood
and adolescence developed this form of behavior. People with this attachment style often
view themselves as unworthy of responsiveness (Patterson, 2012). . Therapist when
consult people with this attachment style needs to build a faith in them as they are already
undergoing trauma in their life. Further, these individuals do not show their feelings or
emotions to any other person. They hide or suppress their emotions in front of any third
individual.
By following all these practices young clients can enhance their capacity to engage in counseling
which can improve their growth.
PART 3
Conceptualise the case by applying development theory.
In the above case, Tim is a School going child who experience a very serious issues as he
is not connected with any person in the class and tried to misbehave when he is not able to keep
his point. Tim experience a kind of fear and anxiety as he is not able to clearly put up his opinion
and tries to get more responsiveness form other counterparts. To analyse the behaviour Tim case
conceptualisation behaviour development theory of Eriksons will be applied:
Theory proposed by Eriksons includes these stages which are as follows:
 Mistrust vs Trust: It is an initial stage of theory and applied on the tim . This theory states
that child develop feeling of trust when he is handled carefully with love and nurture with
affection. Similarly, child can develop feeling of mistrust when he is not be card with
affection. Tim is experiencing a sense of mistrust as he do not share his view points with
others and avoid social connection. At infancy period he is at learning stage, he can form
mistrust to any other individual.
 Shame and Doubt vs Autonomy: This stage include early childhood when he is between
age of one to four and states that children start gaining a little independence and make
simple decision of what they prefer and take basic actions. Tim may have failed at this
stage as he didn't develop a sense of confident and security due to which he fails to
interact properly with others.
 Guilt vs initiative: in this stage children began to assert their power ans control over the
world through directing play and other social interactions. Tim dose not have proper

balance of individual initiative and a willingness as he is not able to work properly with
others and has developed a sense of guilt, self-doubt and lack of initiative. Like in case
study it was provided that he has created feeling of guilt towards others (Lefmann and
Combs-Orme, 2013).
 Industry vs Inferiority: Social Interactions helped in developing a sense of pride in their
abilities and accomplishments. Tim interactions with the children of his age group is very
limited as he did not want to interact with those children.
Description of how the application of this developmental theory helps in treatment
Eriksons has proposed a development theory which implies how a person from its early
stage i.e. form the phase he/she is born till old age will react and interact with society.
In the above case, Tim is a child aged 7 to 12 years who suffers from issue of fear,
confusion, doubt and mistrust. These problems in the attitude of Tim has caused the situation of
concerned for both his teacher and parents. Applying of Eriksson development theory can help
parents and teachers to change the behaviour pattern of Tim. It can be applied for treatment in
following ways This theory laid emphasises on development of social nature of person and
shows importance of social relationships at an early stage between one to four.Tim can be
encouraged to open up to his age group friends and help him to understand the importance of
social interactions. Tim can be encouraged through the actions of his teacher and care givers by
laying importance on how to build an interaction with classmates (Lefmann and Combs-Orme,
2013 ). Erriksons model explain the tendency of initiative and guilt at the stage of one to four
which give importance of building children behaviour to plan activities , make up games and
initiate activities with others (Lefmann and Combs-Orme, 2013 ). . This theory can be applied
on Tim and motivate him to plan actions and take initiative of action taken by him. Parents and
Teachers of Tim can utilised the Erriksons theory to remove the fear of guilt, self-doubt from
Tim which he is facing. They can ask Tim to put his opinion in more effective way and avoid
any fightings (Lefmann and Combs-Orme, 2013 ) . Further, parents should also develop the
peaceful environment in the house which motivate Tim to share his thoughts and make decision
of what he prefers. Tim can be treated by encouraging him to interact with his peer groups as the
fourth stage of Erriksons states that Child peer's group will gain greater significance and become
a major source of child's self-esteem (Kilanska and Priest , 2014).Further, Erikson theory states
that children starts sharing their reviews and become more reasonable. Tim can be encouraged to

build a creative thinking for approaching his problems and if he comes up with suggestion then
he must be rewarded for the same.
PART 4
Description of engagement with Tim in initial counselling session.
It is been discussed earlier how Tim faces issues of mistrust, anxiety, anger and lack of
social interactions with his peer groups. To overcome the challenges Tim faces his parents
decide to get done a counselling session of Tim so that they can get to know what fears he faces.
I engaged in counselling of Tim by asking a few questions which can help me to get to
know what basic problems Tim is facing and how it can be resolved.
Stage 1:
At this stage I would build a sense of trust in order to create therapeutic relationship. This
is the initial stage where I read the case of Tim by the notes provided by his Parents. After,
reading them I asked several questions from his Teacher who suggested Tim's parents to go for
counselling process. I asked his teacher about the behaviour of Tim with her and other class
fellows, how he react to group activities, Did he go for playing session or not?, Do Tim take
initiative of planning activities or not?
Stage 2:
I met Tim at my clinic and asked him to introduce himself to me. Further, I asked him to
give detail about his school and friends with whom he played in campus. After, listening to Tim
description I was cleared that he faces serious problems of mistrust and insecurity in hos
behaviour. .
Stage 3:
After, analysing Tim's behaviour and asking basic question about him by his teachers I
suggested an exercise for Tim. This will include 1 hour session of Interaction of Tim with his
parents every day where he will ask to share his details about school and what he learned in
different group activities. Erikson model includes approaches to analyse behaviour change
Further, I suggested his teacher to encourage Tim to interact with his class fellow and take
initiative of planning things and activities. Tim parents are asked to motivate Tim to encourage
to play outside with his peer groups. Tims is asked to meet me up after completing 1 month
period. Further, when he will complete his deadline session he will be rewarded for improving
his performance and motivate to continue this kind of behaviour.

Stage 4:
Tim has come after completing exact 30 days time period and I can notice the changes in
his attitude. He was more open to share his details regarding his peer groups at school and at
playground. Tim gives every detailed of its activities which he did at school and has become
more open and confident while addressing his peer groups.
Discussion of challenges that working with a client this age might present.
Therapist refers to that group of people who did counselling of people of different age
and provide them with the solutions to resolve their emotional, mental and physical issues. There
are certain challenges that is faced by Therapist when he/she performed counselling of child;
 Therapist faces issues of communication as child do not able to convey his/her problem
to counsellor. Child may avoid question asked by his counsellor and will not respond to
therapist properly.
 Child show a fearful behaviour while addressing the question of therapist and in nervous
situation a child may give wrong or improper answers (Liyanage Strachan, Penlington,
and Casselden, 2013).
 Therapist faces issues of interaction with child due to his attachment style. Child who has
fearful or dismissive attachment style avoid question session.
 Further, child do not properly respond to unknown person which creates more problem
for Therapist to know the detail description of issues (Lefmann and Combs-Orme,
2013 ).
CONCLUSION
Development theories are crucial in knowing and addressing the changes in the behaviour
of any individual. Theories of Eriksson, Lawrence and Piaget give detailed description of human
behaviour that will be faced across whole lifespan. The report concludes about application of
Erikssons theory in counselling of Tim a school going child who faces issues of fear, insecurity
and mistrust.

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