Practising communication and counselling skills - 10 Scenarios (page 173)
Scenario 1
Child: You are a four year-old boy whose mother has just passed away. You are frightened and
confused and do not know what will happen to you. You do not have the words to express what
you are feeling, but you may be able to draw or act out these feelings.Scenario 1
Counsellor: The child you will be counselling is four years old and his mother has just passed away.
Your job is to find out how the child is feeling and if he has any questions that you can answer.
You may need to use indirect methods, such as drawing, storytelling, drama or playing to find out how
this boy is feeling.Scenario 2
Child: You are a fifteen year-old girl whose parents have died. You are the head of a household and
taking care of a young brother and sister. An older man has come and said that he will pay your
brother’s and sister’s school fees if you will become his girlfriend. You are a virgin and do not wish to
be this man’s girlfriend, but you do not have money to pay the school fees. You are confused and do
not know what to do.Scenario 2
Counsellor: The child you will be counselling is a fifteen year-old girl whose parents have died. She is
the head of a household and taking care of a young brother and sister. Lately, you have noticed that
she appears to be sad and preoccupied. Your job is to find out if anything is troubling her and to try
to help.Scenario 3
Child: You are a ten year-old boy, and your father died of AIDS one month ago. Your schoolmates
have told you that they can no longer be your friends because of this disease you have in your family.
You feel angry and ashamed. At first, you feel these things so strongly that you do not want to answer
the questions of your counsellor.Scenario 3
Counsellor: The child you will be counselling is a ten year-old boy whose father died of AIDS one
month ago. Your job is to find out how he is coping with the loss and if he is having any problems.Scenario 4
Child: You are a seven year-old girl. One year ago your father died. Now your mother has become ill.
You have begun to miss school because you stay home to take care of her. You are frightened because
she is becoming weaker and it is more difficult to help her. You are afraid that she may die as well.Scenario 4
Counsellor: The child you will be counselling is a seven year-old girl whose father died one year ago.
Lately she has not been attending school. Your job is to find out why she is no longer going to school
and to help her with any problem she may be having.(^350) Appendix 2, Further Infomation Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children