ABSTRACT
There will be times when, much as we wish to help a distressed child, we worry whether we are doing the right thing. Should I ask questions? Will talking about it make matters worse? Should I give them a cuddle? The answer to these questions is, ‘It depends’. This chapter considers some key ideas and skills that can help us get it right more often. Much of what follows is common sense. If we make a mistake we should take comfort by remembering that our intentions are good. Because listening to an emotionally troubled child is an art there are no hard and fast rules.
