Dr. Joseph White is a Clinical Child and Family Psychologist and religious education editor in Austin, Texas. His work has included counseling children and families after traumatic events and consultation with schools and churches after natural disasters and acts of terrorism. He is Board Certified in Sexual Abuse by the American Association of Experts in Traumatic Stress and certified by the American Psychological Association to train therapists for work with child victims of violence. Joseph previously worked as a director of children’s ministry. He is the author of eleven books, including Listening for God in Everyday Life (2020) and Burnout Busters: Stress Management for Ministry(2007).
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Free Children's Ministry Mini Course
How To Talk To Kids And Their Parents About Tough Issues

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Enrollment Fee
Free
Course Overview
When sad times come, how equipped are you to help children in your ministry cope? We help hurting kids when we know how to talk with them about what's going on. Knowing how to establish a relationship that builds trust and communicates support is critical in making a difference. In this course we'll show you how.
Course Outline
Getting Started
Discover how to navigate your online course, get connected to our ministry network, and download a copy of the Course Notes.
Welcome
Meet course instructor Dr. Joseph White, Clinical Child and Family Psychologist. His background in church ministry and board certification to train therapists for work with child abuse victims will help you discover the unique role you play in helping hurting kids and their families. He’ll equip you with the tools to be effective as you come alongside families who need help.
Module 1. Helping Hurting Kids Through Supportive Conversations
We help hurting kids when we know how to talk with them about what’s going on. Knowing how to establish a relationship that builds trust and communicates support is critical in making a difference. This module will show you how.
Module 2. Deeper Dive Conversations
When kids need to express something difficult, they often use only body language to communicate something is wrong. Or they say very little initially. We’ll show you how to have supportive conversations with children. You’ll learn attentive listening and skills to facilitate deeper level conversations.
Module 3. Talking With Parents
It’s important that we talk with parents or caregivers when we see that kids are in distress. In this module we’ll explore additional skills to use when talking to family members about behaviors we observe that might be indicators that kids are hurting.
Module 4. Wrap Up
You’re now ready to identify and respond to hurting kids through supportive conversations. In this session you’ll identify some specific action steps to implement immediately in your children’s ministry.
Course Outcomes
U Discover
How to have supportive conversations with children and their parents.
Attentive listening skills to discern underlying issues and concerns.
Tips on how to engage in conversations using questions that bring emotions to the surface.
U Will
Gain practical skills to use when responding to kids and their parents as they deal with tough issues.
About the Instructor

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