Psychological Counselling for Parents of Children with Special Needs/Chronically Ill Children

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The main aim of the course is to provide support to the parents who have special family dynamics due to chronical challenge in their parenthood. Psychological support is intended for them on the one hand, since they go through various psychological stages and on the other hand to teach them how to establish the best relationship with children, depending on their special needs and to adapt to the situation that is lifelong.

CURRICULUM

1. Setting the Scene

This section introduces psychological counselling, clarifying what it is, who it aims to help, and which professionals provide support.

2. Family Adaptation to the Challenge

This section explores the consequences of disease and developmental disabilities, explains the concepts of family adaptation and coping with a diagnosis, and identifies potential challenges that may arise.

3. Providing Support – Aims, Relationship, and Process

This section outlines the aims of support, contrasts partnership and professional models, and describes the core stages in the support-provision process.

4. The Beginning of Establishing a Relationship

This section covers the essential attitudes and skills for initiating a helping relationship, guiding the first meeting with clients and presenting case examples.

5. Helping Parents to Change

This section addresses how to support parents through receiving bad news and explains theoretical perspectives on constructing adaptive structures for change.

6. Problem Solving

This section presents a structured problem-solving approach, including goal definition, action planning, implementation, evaluation, and effective supportive strategies.

CERTIFICATION

At the end of the Erasmus training course, all participants receive official documentation confirming their successful completion of the programme. Each participant is awarded a Certificate of Attendance, issued by the organising institution, which verifies the learning outcomes achieved, the total number of training hours, and the course topics covered.

In addition, participants receive a Europass Mobility Certificate, prepared in accordance with the Erasmus+ quality standards. This document records the skills, competencies, and knowledge gained during the course and is fully recognised across Europe, making it a valuable addition to professional portfolios and CVs.

Together, these certificates provide participants with formal recognition of their professional development, supporting further career advancement, mobility opportunities, and validation of newly acquired competencies within their educational or professional institutions.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completing the course, participants will be able to:

1. 1. Explain the role and purpose of psychological counselling and identify the professionals involved in providing support.

   2. Describe the impact of illness and developmental disabilities on families and understand key concepts of adaptation and coping.

   3. Establish an effective helping relationship using appropriate attitudes, communication skills, and structured first-meeting strategies.

   4. Differentiate between partnership and professional models of support and apply the principles of an effective support process.

   5. Deliver sensitive information, including bad news, in a constructive manner that supports parents’ emotional adjustment.

   6. Apply theoretical frameworks to understand and guide parental change and the development of adaptive coping structures.

   7. Use a structured problem-solving approach including goal setting, action planning, implementation, and evaluation.

   8. Select and apply effective strategies and interventions that enhance the quality of support provided to families and individuals.