Parenting Consultations
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Parenting your child/adolescent can be a fulfilling and joyful experience. However, there are undeniable challenges that accompany parenting. Parenting experiences are unique due to children’s different personalities and temperament. When it is a great match, the result is less stressful interactions with the child. Conversely, a “not so good” match often results in a stressful experience for both the child and parent.
Parenting your child or adolescent can be frustrating, stressful and sometimes even confusing. This can give rise to disruptions in your family’s daily functioning. You may have applied your best knowledge and utilized your skills, but are still falling short of reaching the goals you’ve set out for your family, or realizing the hopes you have for your child.
There are many reasons why a parent consultation with one of our therapists can be beneficial for you. These may include gaining strategies, support, guidance, and insight, as you try to provide the best for your child/adolescent. These consultations equip caregivers/parents with the necessary skills in addressing behavioural challenges, thereby supporting your child’s development, as well as mental and emotional wellness. Parents will receive practical information, parenting strategies, and learn new practice skills.
A parenting consultation begins with our therapists getting to understand the unique needs of your child/adolescent. Furthermore, the therapist will gain in-depth knowledge of your family situation or circumstances, enabling us to create a unique plan for your family. This also gives you the opportunity to discuss the unique needs of their child.
During this consultation, we will explore your child’s social and emotional issues, activities, relationships, interests, family supports, challenges, coping and resilience resources. We will also explore issues around routine and daily activities, including other members of the family. Additionally, it’s an opportunity to explore supports for parents/caregivers, their coping styles, resourcing and parenting approach. The therapist will then explore areas in which the parent needs support, and then develop a personalized plan to implement strategies and promote healing and growth.
Parenting consultations can be a great alternative when circumstances prevent families from engaging in therapy. Parents often seek consultations when there are recognized strengths in the family, but guidance in one or several specific areas of parenting and family life is needed.
These consultations may consist of 2 sessions or more.
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During these challenging times (Covid -19), a parenting consultation may help you to:
Understand and provide concrete tools to solve problems
Provide the right supports for your children
Create or modify routines, adjusting the "new normal"
Generate ideas about introducing new activities
Address anxiety, emotional and behavioural issues
Use your space to fit for different age groups and personality
Understand change in behaviours and know that some children may be going through loss and become more disruptive, withdrawn or aggressive than usual. They may not have the language to express their needs except through their behaviour
Enhance, identify, learn or understand how to be in your child’s corner, to be their “cheerleader”
Develop strategies for better academic success
Strengthen resiliency and coping
Provide you as a parent a safe place to get support and gain patience during challenging times
Generate ideas and strategies to help you better manage your own stressors
Our professional therapists and registered psychologists at River's Edge Counselling will create a tailor-made program that fits the specific needs of your child and your family.
