Raising children is not only one of the most rewarding tasks a parent can experience, but it can also be one of the most stressful. As children grow and develop, they will endure new challenges which may be welcomed or could be fraught with stress.

For instance, as your child goes through primary and secondary school, they could be subject to bullying, may start to feel overwhelmed by the demands of school, may feel that there is something wrong with them, or could suddenly start refusing school altogether.

We also find that children whose parents are unhappy, or have decided to separate, frequently blame themselves, which understandably causes significant distress and may impact on their ability to concentrate, socialise, their mood and emotional well-being.

Sometimes it can be difficult for adults to understand how difficult children's problems can be because we view the problem through our own eyes, with many more years worth of experience and a much strong sense of self. But the pressures of school and growing up can be very hard for some children to cope with successfully.

If your child is upset or troubled, majority of the time they are unlikely to talk about it. However, there are some warning signs you will probably notice in the event that your child is under pressure.

Changes in Behaviour: Your child might withdraw from their friends and lose interest in the hobbies and games they previously enjoyed.

Changes in Temperament: Your child may start to have sudden outbursts of anger over fairly small incidents or they may become more sensitive than usual and easily upset.

Physical Complaints: Your child may start to complain of headaches, stomach pains, and frequent tiredness despite good health. They might also complain of sleeping difficulties and may change their eating habits.

Changes in Thinking: Your child may say things that indicate a disliking for themselves, exhibit low self-esteem, or high levels of self-blame. They may have difficulty concentrating or frequently experience negative thoughts and in some cases, they may even think about suicide.

Considering the difficulties that come with trying to support a child or young adult, we have ensured that we have counsellors who are experienced in child and adolescence counselling and are well equipped to help your child. We are able to work with children and young adults either independently and liaise with parents, or work with the child and parents together to ensure a positive outcome. Various techniques can be used within the sessions depending on the age of your child, the relationships they have, their level of maturity and communication skills, and the issues that they are trying to cope with.

If you would like to know more about the types of support we can offer to your child, please call us on 9704 9500.