How can counselling services help my child?

Many young people are struggling with how they feel. They are having problems with friends, family or school, they are anxious, depressed, angry or scared and need to talk to someone, but find it difficult to talk to people they know. Counselling services can help them talk things through, support them without making them feel judged, and in confidence (unless they disclose that their personal safety is at risk).

Counselling is the most common form of talking therapy. Counselor is a facilitator who helps the client to identify the spot he or she is stuck and put them back on to track without humiliating or judging them. It can help young people deal with issues and events and the effects they are having on their mental wellbeing. Counselling could be recommended for people who are finding studies difficult with anxiety, bereavement; bullying, anger, relationships, low self-esteem, and self-harm. The counsellor will help explore the problem, the symptoms and strategies for coping.

Psychotherapy:

This is a more long-term therapy and involves talking about the effects of past events and can be more helpful with long-term problems such as sexual abuse, health challenges, grief, relationship break ups etc.

Family Therapy:

The whole family works with the family therapist to try and understand the problems they are all having. It can help improve communications between family members and issues such as children's behavioural problems, disability, family breakdown, addiction and domestic violence. If your teenager is displaying lots of the signs above and it has been going on for a while, it is best to seek help. Once you suspect there is a problem, talk to others who know your child, family, friends, school to see if they have also noticed changes and signs.