Is your child refusing to go to school? Here’s what you can do about it.
Many people approach the Sydney Couple and Family Specialists for help for school refusal. Typically, this happens after a child or teen has been school refusing for a couple of months and they have not been able to get anywhere with individual counselling. …
How do I talk to my teen about self-harm and why it is important to get the right help.
Parents are rightly shocked when they discover their child is self-harming. A common response is to avoid the topic because they don’t know what to say, or to take drastic action to try to stop the behaviour immediately. Sometimes self-harm is dismissed …
Why does asking my child/teen to turn off their gaming console cause an explosion of anger?
Ever wondered why your child’s Xbox or PlayStation 4 – their most favourite thing to do in the world – can also be a complete source of misery? Why do they explode into fits of rage when you finally get them to …
Adolescent Violence and Abuse in Families
There is a lot of discussion about violence between adult partners, but very little about teenagers who are violent and abusive towards other family members. As a Family Therapist I meet many parents who feel like they are “walking on eggshells” around …
Should Step-Parents Discipline?
One of the hardest parenting gigs is being a step-parent. They often find themselves expected to do parenting chores such as running kids to soccer or enduring kid-friendly dinners. They may be expected to put up with attitude from teenagers and share the …
Help to manage family stress when a child has ADHD
By the time a Family Counsellor like me sees parents of a child with ADHD, they are urgently in need of a safe space to work through the experience of parenting a child who has extra challenges. Some of you may know …
What to do if you think your child is being bullied
Sadly, there are bullies everywhere. In my practice I see families where small children are bullied, teenagers who are bullied and adults who are bullied or have been bullied in the workplace. The impact of this behaviour can leave a long-lasting injury …
How can I repair a cut-off with my family member?
Are you estranged or cut-off from your child? Perhaps you haven’t had contact for several months or even years? Maybe you are also missing out on seeing their children – your grandchildren? Or are you an adult child who hasn’t seen your …
Solving the struggles of step parenting
Embarking on a new relationship can be tricky in itself, but when adding children into the mix, the challenges can often be taken to a whole new level. …