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How Do I Choose the Best Child Counseling Courses?

Geri Terzo
Geri Terzo

The emotional well-being of a child is a delicate thing. Even the most educated psychologists have likely enrolled in child counseling courses specifically throughout a college education. There are different ways to go about training, and the best courses may be on the university level or some career training designed to enhance the skills of a practicing therapist. The best courses may be offered through the Internet or could be in classroom settings. It's possible that the best training is something that is targeted to provide child therapy using very specific techniques.

There are different ways to provide therapy to children, and dialogue is not always the most appropriate form of help. The best child counseling courses might instruct you on how to treat children using play, music, or art. Art therapy, for instance, may be used to counsel children who have been through some especially traumatic event where talking makes the situation worse.

A child counselor with a teen girl.
A child counselor with a teen girl.

Certain courses focus on the arts as a part of the training for students. There are one-day sessions that exist to support other formal training and that might provide some type of credit toward a degree for college students. It is also possible to pursue a college major in art therapy as it relates to counseling children.

On the path to obtaining training to become a child counselor, it is possible that the best child counseling courses will also cover marriage and the family dynamic. The best courses might be provided over the Internet by an accredited college or university. Instruction should cover child psychology and be counted toward a bachelor's or master's degree in this field. Possibly, the best child counseling courses may also prepare you to teach about child behavior, possibly at the doctoral level. Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs are offered online that prepare doctorate students for taking faculty positions on the college level rather than pursuing careers in social services or in a clinic.

Children playing with blocks in therapy.
Children playing with blocks in therapy.

Religious child counseling courses may be the best course of action for some. For the counselor who wants to incorporate an element of spirituality into therapy sessions, Bible-based training is available. Students who take adequate child counseling courses with a religious educator may earn a certification or credits toward an Internet counseling degree. Earned certificates should support a specialization, such as child counseling, that a professional seeks to pursue. Preparation in a religious setting will likely lead to some Bible-based certification.

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    • A child counselor with a teen girl.
      By: Lisa F. Young
      A child counselor with a teen girl.
    • Children playing with blocks in therapy.
      By: Marzanna Syncerz
      Children playing with blocks in therapy.
    • Child counselors often work to help shy or anxious children interact more positively with their peers.
      By: DNF-Style
      Child counselors often work to help shy or anxious children interact more positively with their peers.
    • Art therapy allows children to express difficult emotions through art.
      By: nadezhda1906
      Art therapy allows children to express difficult emotions through art.
    • For the counselor who wants to incorporate an element of spirituality into therapy sessions, Bible-based training is available.
      By: manaemedia
      For the counselor who wants to incorporate an element of spirituality into therapy sessions, Bible-based training is available.