Course Descriptions

family comms separating well for children

Family Communications | Separating Well for Children

In this programme parents who are parenting post separation or are planning to separate are supported to firstly understand the impact of separation on children. The programme aims to support parents to have a child centred approach post separation, ensuring children are supported to manage the transition well, achieving positive outcomes. The 4 steps of clear and direct communication are explored to help parents improve communication resulting in decreased conflict.

Parents are asked to explore and understand the needs of children and parents at the time of separation and how these needs can be met. In the programme parents are encouraged to have pride in the new family form, inviting children to ask questions and being available to answer the awkward questions about family forms as they arise.

We explore what shared parenting is, why it is beneficial to children when done well and how parents can develop a shared parenting plan to support them to move into the business of shared parenting post separation.

Finally the programme asks you to develop new family traditions to support you as move through this transition with your children, while also exploring how you can manage conflict in the future while maintaining a healthy balance of meeting your needs and those of your children.

Positive Parenting for Changing Families

Understand Your Child’s Emotional Development & How To Manage Behaviours In Young Children

This programme supports parents of toddlers through to late primary school. The concept of the ‘Good Enough Parent’ supports parents to examine their parenting style and explore how this impacts on the relationship they have with their child. During the programme parents are asked to become more confident in how they parent, allowing them to be assertive in how they handle the many challenges that young children can present. Parents will learn the importance of positive attention, routines and consistency, quality time, quiet time and the active listening. We will also examine the difference in discipline versus punishment, helping parents to teach children as they manage childhood behaviours.

Family Communications | Coping with Teens and Family Life

This programme introduces the concept of the strong family unit, supporting parents to build relationships by ensuring the core ingredients of good communication and assertive parenting are in place within the family. Parents will learn the 4 step process of clear and direct communication also known as NVC.

With these elements in place parents begin to understand the ‘life of a teenager’. You are supported to explore the many changes and challenges that occur for teens as they move through puberty and how you as a parent can support your teen at this vulnerable time. Parents will have an opportunity to reflect on the many behavioural challenges that teens can present with such as power struggles. As a parent the programme helps you to learn when to step in and when to step back.

Parenting under Pressure | Zoom or In Person TBD

The Parenting under Pressure (PuP) programme was developed specifically for families who are experiencing problems across multiple domains of family life. These can include problems with parental mental health, exposure to trauma, parent substance abuse, financial and social challenges. The primary aim of PuP is to help parents who are facing adversity, create a settled, stable and safe family environment that is conducive to the development of positive and secure relationships with their children. In turn, helping children reach their full potential.

This is achieved by providing parents with:

An opportunity to share their experiences as a parent with other parents who are also under pressure.
A time to reflect on their current family functioning and to identify their strengths.
An opportunity for parents to learn new skills to manage their emotions.
An opportunity to hear the stories of other families.
The opportunity to set goals and work towards making positive changes in the family.

Sessions include:

Connecting with your child to help them feel loved and nurtured.
Family weather and climate
Balanced parenting
Caring for yourself – emotional balance
Prompting child self-regulation
Connecting with family, community and culture