Working with kids who have experienced severe abuse and/or trauma is easy. Children are more accepting, more resilient, and typically, more likely to engage in the process of counseling than many adults. What makes therapy with this unique population so difficult are the adults!
As a former athlete, I heard the acronym KISS, “keep it simple silly” numerous times. (Well, interchange silly with what S-word you feel fits best) While learning the basics of child-centered play, I often wondered if something this simple could really work. Of course, there is an underlying complexity, intertwined with counseling theory, child development, and various other fields. Yet the delivery was uncomplicated.
If you have spent thirty minutes with a child under age 8, you are aware that children do not deal well with “fluff”. Unnecessary details are boring and many times, create misgivings.
As therapists, we sometimes have to step aside and get out of the way of our child clients. Fortunately for us, most of our child clients will let us know through a look, a body movement, or some other sign that we are way off! (aka incongruent) When this happens to me, I smile inside and remember, “KISS, stupid.”
