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Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 (2012) 4746 – 4750
WCES 2012
The impact of a counselling program for abused children
a
Alina M , Simona Eftimieb
a
Educational Sciences Department, Petroleum-Gas University, Bd. Bucuresti, 39, Ploiesti, 100680, Romania
b
Petroleum-Gas University, Bd. Bucuresti, 39, Ploiesti, 100680, Romania
Abstract
Starting from our previous research on abused children, we have found that in Emergency Reception Centres specialists are
er
aims to analyse the impact of an individualised and group counselling program developed with abused children integrated in an
Emergency Reception Centre. Our findings have emphasised important changes regarding personal, social and prospective self of
counselled children. For example we found that self esteem has increased from 20% to 64% of counselled children, and
prospective self have increased from 30% to 85%. The implementation of the individual and the group counselling program have
developed self image of abused children and their chances to scholar and social integration.
12Published
© 2012 PublishedbybyElsevier
Elsevier Ltd.
Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Uzunboylu
Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license.
Keywords: Abuse, self esteem, counselling program
1. Introduction
The fact that everyday abused children are brought into Emergency Reception and Day Care Centres represents
an alarming signal about the increasing phenomenon of violence in Romania and, more, concerning the intervention
ways used by these institutions or by professionals from The Direction for Social Assistance and Child Protection
from every county.
The main attributions of Emergency Reception and Day Care Centres for abused children are connected both to
emergency intervention in order to separate the child from his abusive family and take adequate protection measures
(placement centre, placement to maternal assistant, adoption if the parents are loosing their rights as parents etc.),
and to support the family and the child by counselling in order to reintegrate the child into his family (if it is the best
interest of the child and the case will be monitored by mobile intervention teem from The Direction for Social
Assistance and Child Protection).
After a research that we have developed on 21 abused children, with ages between 13 and 18 years, from an
Emergency Reception and Day Care Centre from Prahova County, we have found the emphasised need for a
counselling program for abused children. Although counselling purpose was specified to legislative and procedural
ogram
for individual and group counselling. This situation is possible because the only specialist from the centre is a
psychologist, and his responsibilities are mostly focused on psychological evaluation of the children (initial and
periodical); and the mobile intervention teem of The Direction for Social Assistance and Child Protection is
responsible for a large number of children from many centres.
Considering the Self Esteem Scale results, our research findings indicate that 81% of investigated children have a
low self esteem and 59% have a low emotional self control (mostly been affected physical self and prospective self).
This situation demonstrate that is imperative that these children to be permanently counselled.
1877-0428 © 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Uzunboylu
Open access under CC BY-NC-ND license. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.329
Alina M_rg_ri_oiu and Simona Eftimie / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 (2012) 4746 – 4750 4747
Also, the analyse of The Observation Grid dominant behaviour type indicate that 45% of investigated children
demonstrate asocial behaviours, 76% aggressive behaviours, 43% radical behaviours, 52% demission behaviours,
and even suicidal tentative (especially cutting their hands), fact that prevent communication with abused children
and their scholar and social integration.
Our investigation concerning cognitive processing of information (Information Processing questionnaire)
indicated that many investigated children (79%) have preponderant negative thoughts about self, the others, their
future or about world in generally.
Our research have developed starting from the premise that an individualised and group counselling program for
abused children integrated in an Emergency Reception Centre will considerable improve self-esteem, emotional self
control, solving problems and communication abilities, and also their scholar and social integration.
2. Research Methodology
Purpose of Study: Our paper aims to analyse the impact of an individualised and group counselling program
developed with abused children integrated in an Emergency Reception Centre.
Participants, procedure and methods
Present study has involved 21 abused children placed to the Emergency Reception Centre and Day Care from
Prahova County. Children aged between 13 and 18 years old, 12 girls (13 17 years old) and 9 boys (14-18 years
old).
Study design has followed 3three stages:
I. Implementing an individual counselling program for the investigated subjects. The purpose for the individual
counselling program was to stimulate the introspection process in order to a better and more realistic self knowledge,
self acceptance, self esteem increasing, solving personal problems in order to an optimal adaptation to his own
person and to the situation.
Theoretical fundaments that helped us developing the counselling program structure were key components of
gestalt (F. Perls, 1973) and nondirective therapies (C. Rogers, 1951). From gestalt therapy principles we have
focused in counselling process on: self-disclosure and self-
nciple) in order to help
abused child to become aware of his internal obstacles (shame, anxiety, anger etc.) and about the difference between
Important for the abused children counselling process were to offer the
I. Mitrofan, 1999, p. 91), emphatic understanding, tolerance, respect and to build
a confidence relationship between the counsellor and the child.
objectives have been determined by our previous research which indicated that
all investigated subjects developed cognitive, affective and behavioural disorders and they have a low level of self
esteem:
O1. Development of a positive self image;
O2. Cognitive restructuring;
O3. Achieving problem-solving skills.
And the issues that individual counselling has focused on were:
- Clarifying child feelings;
- Identifying the factors that determined a low self esteem;
- Detachment from negative experiences;
- Understanding and externalising their own feelings;
- Identifying interior discourse, interior critic;
- Modifying cognitive schema through relativization of automatic negative thoughts;
- Identifying self development abilities.
Methods and techniques used through individual counselling process were: observation, active listening,
reflection, rephrasing, paraphrasing; relaxation techniques (autogenic training by Schultz, progressive relaxation
4748 Alina M_rg_ri_oiu and Simona Eftimie / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 (2012) 4746 – 4750
training of Jacobson); identifying strengths and weaknesses technique; empty chair as dialog support technique; the
technique of the wall which allows exploration and finding solutions to overwhelm the obstacle; the technique of
storyboarding of incommode, consciously rejected to communicate ideas.
II. Developing group counselling sessions in order to develop interaction and social integration abilities and
straightening skills obtained through individual counselling.
The objectives of group counselling have developed the following issues:
O1. Developing abilities for management and solving problems;
O2. Developing assertive communication abilities;
O3. Creating a positive attitude toward world and people;
O4. Developing responsibility toward their actions and decisions.
The content for the counselling sessions was:
- Aggressive assertive passive communication;
- Relationships with family, friends and colleagues;
- Children rights;
- Creating goals in solving-problem.
And the methods used were: observation, active listening, assertive and affirmation techniques, reflecting,
rephrasing, roles playing, dramatization.
III. Analyse the impact of an individualised counselling program and group activities developed with abused
children with research tools from the first stage of the investigation: Self Esteem Scale, Cognitive Information
Processing questionnaire and Self Image Evaluation questionnaire.
3. Data Analysis and Interpretations
Considering the evolution of the children in the process of the individual counselling, we have found an
improvement of their behaviour on cognitive, affective, motivational and relational level. During our individual
meetings, children have learned to self analyse and self evaluate better, to have a realistic consciousness of their
straights and weaknesses, to understand their feelings and emotions (and not to be dominated by them), to identify
devalued thoughts which deformed reality perception and determine them to fail.
The exercises have been focused to learn the children to express with openness and adequate their feelings and
thoughts especially concerning unpleasant experiences; to not be manipulated and aggressed by the others, to act in
conformity with personal ideas and opinions, to valorise the qualities and diminish their defects, to be authentic in
relations with self and the others.
Also, children have learned to accept themselves as they are, to respect their right to be imperfect, to trust
themselves, to act so that feel useful and reconciled with itself.
Considering group counselling, the homogeneity of the group (determined by su
exp
The group have been for abused children a family pattern in which the counsellor represented a substitute for
their parents and, so, he succeeded to significantly influence group members.
Group counselling process has focused on developing social (interactional) abilities with the others. Children
have learned to trust each other, to easily communicate, to accept and offer affection, to have an emphatic attitude,
worm and open, to actively listen, to respect the other and his opinions etc.
Now, children are more opened, more spontaneous and manifests a higher level of independency, are more
flexible, have learned to use direct ways to communicate, listen more the others, respect and treasure human
differences / variety; some of them have became closer, accept themselves and the others, are capable to receive
critiques and feed-back, ask for advice and support when they need, are more tolerant to frustration. And all these
behaviours demonstrate the increasing of their self esteem level.
Alina M_rg_ri_oiu and Simona Eftimie / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 (2012) 4746 – 4750 4749
Regarding the impact of an individualised and group counselling program developed with abused children, we
have found that:
3.1. Their global self esteem has been improved.
Using again Self Esteem Scale we have noticed that global self esteem for counselled children have been
improved. If, initially only 20% of children manifested a medium and low levels of self esteem, after the counselling
sessions (where children discovered and explored more their possibilities) their global self esteem have significantly
improved; 64% of counselled children have more confidence in themselves and started to look more optimistic to
their future.
Another significant result of our research which emphasises the difference between the initial and final results is
connected to the emotional self. After the counselling sessions, children learned to identify, understand and express
their emotions, so that now 71% of them manifest a high self control on their feelings.
Social self have considerably improved as a consequence of group therapy, fact that encourage physical and
psychological interaction between group members. Children have learned to better relate with the others, trust,
respect and accept themselves as they are. Reciprocity principle has been encouraged since the beginning so that to
the final of the meetings children succeeded to manifest a high level of empathy. 83% of investigated children are
more secure in relation with the others and declare that is easier to integrate and do not have isolation feelings when
they belong to a group.
Regarding physical self, if initially only 12% of them declare that are satisfied about the way they are looking,
the rest of them considering that they are too fat or too thin etc., after the counselling sessions, they have learned to
relax, not to neglect their body, to take care of it, to accept as they are and to feel good with themselves. So, now
56% of they consider that they have a better impression about their physic, and they are conscious that people are
necessarily the way you look.
The first evaluation of prospective self children has obtained pretty alarming results: investigated children had a
preponderant negative, pessimistic vision on their future. After the counselling sessions, prospective self have
increased from 30% to 85%. The changes have been realised: learning to found alternative for devaluing thoughts,
children have succeeded to eliminate some of cognitive distortions (catastrophes, globalisation, maximisation /
minimisation etc.) which only represented an obstacle for their actions.
3.2. Self, others, future and world perception has improved.
First results obtained from applying Cognitive Information Processing Questionnaire showed that 79% of
investigated children have devaluing thoughts which negatively their reactions and behaviours, while final results
demonstrated that in counselling process children have developed their abilities to avoid internalising every negative
thought as belonging to their structure. They have also learned to ask questions to test the validity of their thoughts,
so that 89% of them have now an improved perception about them, the others, future and world.
3.3. Discordance between actual self and ideal self has been diminished.
Data obtained from Self Image Evaluation Questionnaire indicated a significantly statistic difference between
initial actual and prospective self) and final results (which indicate a diminished discrepancy). If initially 69% of
investigated children had difficulties to self-analyse correctly, after the counselling process only 13% of them
presented this self-perception problem.
4. Conclusions and Recommendations
The investigation of abused children from Emergency Reception Centre about self esteem level and cognitive
processing of information demonstrated the necessity of implementing an individualised and group counselling
program for this category of in need children.
4750 Alina M_rg_ri_oiu and Simona Eftimie / Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 46 (2012) 4746 – 4750
Individual counselling program have focused on stimulating introspection, self-knowledge, self acceptance,
increasing self esteem level and solving personal problems in order to obtain a better adaptation to their own person
and to the lived situation.
The purpose of group counselling has emphasised on developing their abilities of interaction with others and
adaptation to scholar and social environment.
During individual and group counselling we have confronted difficulties in developing a trustful relationship
counsellor
limits about counselling sessions, in controlling their aggressiveness, in manifesting a self-destructive behaviour
(they easily pass from anger to refusal of communication and cry, and threatening with suicidal tentative), in
adopting defensive mechanisms toward abusive parents.
We agree that although individual counselling have facilitated a change of the abused child, group counselling
have conducted to his cure (Rugel, Barry, 1990, apud Mitrofan, 1999, p.111).
In conclusion, the implementation of the individual and group counselling program have developed self image
of abused children and their chances to scholar and social integration.
es to integrate, our proposal is that
social policy makers to impose as necessarily counselling services in all social care centres.
References
Mitrofan, I. (1999). (Experiential psychotherapy),
Perls, F. (1973). The Gestalt Approach & Eye Witness to Therapy, New York, NY: Bantam Books.
Rogers, C. R. (1951). Client-centered Therapy: Its Current Practice Implications and Theory, Londra: Constable.
