Values and Beliefs
The two main values that underpin Kids Helpline practice are empowerment and child-centred practice.
Counselling from an empowerment perspective involves assisting, supporting and working with children and young people to:
- Develop options for change
- Understand the consequences of particular actions
- Help identify her/his own resources and inform them about other resources available
- Help develop a sense of control in their own life
- Utilise their strengths
Providing a child-centred practice involves:
- Listening to and respecting what child or young person has to say
- Focusing on their needs
- Seeing the world from their perspective
- Acknowledging and believing that the child is the primary client
- Seeing the child or young person as an individual person as well as a member of a class or group
- Respecting the child or young person
These child-centred principles influence practice and management decisions at Kids Helpline. Kids Helpline has five operational principles:
- Privacy and Confidentiality
- All children and young people are treated with respect
- Children and young people are free to choose the gender of the counsellor to whom they speak
- Children and young people are able to access the same counsellor if they wish to call back
- Children and young people are encouraged to give feedback about Kids Helpline and the service they receive