Integrated Whole Person Counselling – Module 1 – THE TRINITY COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY

About Course

This module has been compiled for counsellors, pastoral workers, psychology and counselling students, and all professionals who work closely with children and families. It is an integrated guide combining:

developmental psychology
trauma theory
neuropsychology
attachment theory
emotional development
clinical practice
pastoral and Christian spiritual insight

Its purpose is to help counsellors understand the internal world of the child — the unspoken emotional language, the hidden wounds, the developing brain, and the deep spiritual and emotional needs of young hearts.

Although this module offers practical guidance, it does not replace formal training or professional supervision. Practitioners must always work within their scope, and refer children to psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians, or other professionals where necessary.

This work serves as:

an academic guide,
a training module,
and a practical tool for developing capable, ethical, compassionate child counsellors.

Course Content

CHAPTER 2 – THE CHILD’S EMOTIONAL LANGUAGE: HOW CHILDREN COMMUNICATE
• Behaviour decoding exercise. • Observation task: silent / restless / angry child. • Write one page on how a child communicates without words.

Understanding Behaviour Through Needs

CHAPTER 3 – IDENTITY, THE INNER CHILD & THE LIFELONG SEARCH FOR HEALING
• Trauma triggers mapping. • Loss history analysis (case study). • Write a reflection on rejection or abandonment.

CHAPTER 4 – IDENTITY FORMATION: WHO AM I? WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?
• Identity messages list (“Messages I received as a child”). • Describe an identity wound in a hypothetical child. • Role of adolescence reflection.

CHAPTER 5 – TRAUMA, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND THE DEVELOPING BRAIN
• Family role identification task. • Case analysis: Hero, Rebel, Invisible Child, Caregiver.

CHAPTER 6 – THE SILENT CHILD: EMOTIONAL WITHDRAWAL, BEHAVIOURAL SHUTDOWN & HIDDEN WOUNDS
• Bullying case interpretation. • Peer pressure scenario analysis.

CHAPTER 7 – TRAUMA RESPONSES IN CHILDREN
• Emotional literacy exercise. • Emotional needs checklist.

CHAPTER 8 – THE COUNSELLOR’S APPROACH WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN
• Attachment style identification (case). • Write “My safe person” reflection.

CHAPTER 9 – BUILDING RESILIENCE IN CHILDREN
• Strengths inventory (list 10 strengths). • Create a resilience wheel (“My Safe People, My Feelings, My Strengths…”). • Case study: bullied girl. • Coping skills practice & reflection.

CHAPTER 10 – WORKING WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
• Self-talk analysis. • Rewrite negative self-beliefs into positive messages.

CHAPTER 11 – ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN CHILD COUNSELLING
• Transference reflection. • Projection case example.

CHAPTER 12 – CREATING A SAFE AND THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN
• Letter to your inner child. • Narrative rewriting.

CHAPTER 13 – RECOGNISING AND ADDRESSING BEHAVIOURAL CHALLENGES IN CHILDREN
• Plan a 45-60 minute play therapy session with 3 chosen techniques. • Draw a child’s emotional world.

CHAPTER 14 – SUPPORTING CHILDREN THROUGH LOSS AND GRIEF
• Memory box assignment. • Grief drawing assignment.

CHAPTER 15 – INTEGRATED COUNSELLING PRACTICE: BRINGING TOGETHER DEVELOPMENT, TRAUMA, FAMILY SYSTEMS & FAITH (A HOLISTIC MODEL FOR HEALING THE CHILD, THE TEEN AND THE ADULT)
• Adjustment map (for relocation or divorce). • Reflection: “The hardest non-death loss in childhood.”

CHAPTER 16 – DEVELOPING INTERVENTION PLANS FOR CHILDREN
• Ethics scenario: mandatory reporting. • Cultural sensitivity case task.

CHAPTER 17 – MONITORING PROGRESS AND REVIEWING COUNSELLING OUTCOMES
• Progress monitoring checklist. • Case study review. • Behaviour tracking chart. • Child-inclusive review questions.

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About Course

What Will You Learn?

Course Content

CHAPTER 2 – THE CHILD’S EMOTIONAL LANGUAGE: HOW CHILDREN COMMUNICATE • Behaviour decoding exercise. • Observation task: silent / restless / angry child. • Write one page on how a child communicates without words.

Understanding Behaviour Through Needs

CHAPTER 3 – IDENTITY, THE INNER CHILD & THE LIFELONG SEARCH FOR HEALING • Trauma triggers mapping. • Loss history analysis (case study). • Write a reflection on rejection or abandonment.

Behaviour as Communication

CHAPTER 4 – IDENTITY FORMATION: WHO AM I? WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? • Identity messages list (“Messages I received as a child”). • Describe an identity wound in a hypothetical child. • Role of adolescence reflection.

Interpreting Emotional Reactions

CHAPTER 5 – TRAUMA, NEUROPSYCHOLOGY AND THE DEVELOPING BRAIN • Family role identification task. • Case analysis: Hero, Rebel, Invisible Child, Caregiver.

Practical Excercise

Exercise 1: Draw the Brain

Exercise 2: Behaviour Translation Chart

Exercise 3: Create a “Safety Plan”

Exercise 4: Body Memory Mapping

CHAPTER 6 – THE SILENT CHILD: EMOTIONAL WITHDRAWAL, BEHAVIOURAL SHUTDOWN & HIDDEN WOUNDS • Bullying case interpretation. • Peer pressure scenario analysis.

Exercise 1: The Colour of My Silence

Exercise 2: Draw the Safe Room

Exercise 3: The Three Sentences

Exercise 4: Behavioural Observation

Exercise 5: Rewriting the Inner Script

CHAPTER 7 – TRAUMA RESPONSES IN CHILDREN • Emotional literacy exercise. • Emotional needs checklist.

Work Task: Understanding Play as Communication

CHAPTER 8 – THE COUNSELLOR’S APPROACH WHEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN • Attachment style identification (case). • Write “My safe person” reflection.

Chapter 8 Assignment

CHAPTER 9 – BUILDING RESILIENCE IN CHILDREN • Strengths inventory (list 10 strengths). • Create a resilience wheel (“My Safe People, My Feelings, My Strengths…”). • Case study: bullied girl. • Coping skills practice & reflection.

Chapter 9 Assignment

CHAPTER 10 – WORKING WITH PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS • Self-talk analysis. • Rewrite negative self-beliefs into positive messages.

Chapter 10 Assignment

CHAPTER 11 – ETHICAL AND PROFESSIONAL CONSIDERATIONS IN CHILD COUNSELLING • Transference reflection. • Projection case example.

Chapter 11 Assignment

CHAPTER 12 – CREATING A SAFE AND THERAPEUTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREN • Letter to your inner child. • Narrative rewriting.

Chapter 12 Assignment

CHAPTER 13 – RECOGNISING AND ADDRESSING BEHAVIOURAL CHALLENGES IN CHILDREN • Plan a 45-60 minute play therapy session with 3 chosen techniques. • Draw a child’s emotional world.

Chapter 13 Assignment

CHAPTER 14 – SUPPORTING CHILDREN THROUGH LOSS AND GRIEF • Memory box assignment. • Grief drawing assignment.

Chapter 14 Assignment

CHAPTER 15 – INTEGRATED COUNSELLING PRACTICE: BRINGING TOGETHER DEVELOPMENT, TRAUMA, FAMILY SYSTEMS & FAITH (A HOLISTIC MODEL FOR HEALING THE CHILD, THE TEEN AND THE ADULT) • Adjustment map (for relocation or divorce). • Reflection: “The hardest non-death loss in childhood.”

Family Systems & Counselling Assignment

CHAPTER 16 – DEVELOPING INTERVENTION PLANS FOR CHILDREN • Ethics scenario: mandatory reporting. • Cultural sensitivity case task.

Family Therapy Models – Practical Application

CHAPTER 17 – MONITORING PROGRESS AND REVIEWING COUNSELLING OUTCOMES • Progress monitoring checklist. • Case study review. • Behaviour tracking chart. • Child-inclusive review questions.

Chapter 17 Assignment