Walking with Wounded Children

Overview‍

“The fact that the whole model is compiled against the background of academic information, makes it stand alongside academic education. It’s well-founded, it is based on sound principles, it does not stand back to any academic course – to tell the truth, after these two weeks, I feel that well equipped because I can use what I have learned.”

Jurita Saayman has an Honours degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Pastoral Care. She has done counselling at schools, in the church as well as private counselling.

Walking with Wounded Children (course) is designed to equip children’s workers to deal with emotionally wounded children on a very fundamental level. During the course, each participant sees a child 5 times under the supervision of the course facilitators.

We strongly believe that the relationship between the helper and the child is key towards healing.

Course content and objectives

We introduce participants to:

• The Biblical basis of walking with wounded children.
• Understanding and assessing a wounded child.
• Understanding a healing relationship.
• Applying tools for child counselling.

‍At the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Testify of growth and healing in their personal/spiritual lives.
• Give a Biblical basis for helping traumatised children.
• Explain the effects of traumatic experiences on children.
• Differentiate emotionally wounded children from other children.
• Apply basic practical ways to assess emotionally wounded children.
• Explain the basic principles of the so-called “stop sign model” for helping severely traumatised children.
• Apply the principles of a therapeutic or healing relationship.
• Differentiate between helpful and unhelpful counselling responses.
• Apply the basic skills of empathic listening and “feeling” responses.
• Help develop a child’s understanding of emotions and the meaning thereof.
• Apply the principles of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) to help groups of children in a crisis.
• Explain stages of sexual development and how to educate children in each stage.
• Apply the principle of “listening” to the non-verbal communication of children through play or drawing.
• Apply basic therapeutic tools in helping children, such as play therapy and storytelling.
• Apply the principles of Christian “community/fellowship” in the healing process.
• Bring the child into a healing relationship with God through the sensitive use of scripture, prayer and words of wisdom.

Who can enrol?

• Applicants must currently be involved in children’s ministry and fluent in English. 
• No previous psychological/counselling training is required, but it will be advantageous.

Please note

• The banking details and your student number will be provided as soon as your application has been processed.
• Your student number should be used as the payment reference on ALL payments.

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