Growing up with a narcissistic parent is not only traumatic in nature, but also debilitating and detrimental. As a child growing up with a parent like this, one is loved on conditions - that is, as long as the child meets the parent’s needs, continues to adore and idolise the parent, and act as an extension of the parent and not their self, then all is good. Many other times, the child who rebels by having their own identity and refusing to be controlled is verbally abused and mistreated...
We all want our children to be happy and healthy. How can we really tell if they have something on their minds? Are they feeling anxious, are they not telling us something, are they able to articulate how they feel? Feeling low, angry and not sure why, do they understand emotions and how they affect themselves and others? Emotional resilience Emotional resilience is the key to learning how to deal with our feelings and how they make us think, feel, and behave. If a child is aware of and able...
The rocky road of attachment and relationships Relationships are arguably the most fundamental part of our lives. Whether we have them or have lost them, or find ourselves aching to leave or improve them, the topic of relationships is the single most emotive subject in therapy sessions. Becoming emotionally close to another person can be a journey in itself; trying to stay close over the passage of time can be even harder. Finally, sometimes, through no fault of our own, we have to find a way...
Children are taught, very early on in life, to live under pressure. They have to behave, learn fast, know the right answer, be the best, win, and never fail - in other words, they have to be perfect children. School, as well as parents, believe that they will nurture great qualities in children and will help them become extraordinary individuals if they monitor them closely and correct their mistakes step by step. This is how children learn from their first years of life that making errors...
There is so much exposure for our children in society, with such easy access to social media and an increase in cyberbullying, self-harm, low self-esteem, social isolation, family and peer relationships, depression, suicidal thoughts, identity, exams and some type of sexual exploitation, it is very difficult for children, young people and parents to manage these issues. This can be detrimental to their mental, physical and emotional well-being, with some children as young as eight years old...
Therapy is something many only consider going to as an adult, but in fact, it can be beneficial to take your children to see an expert as well. Whether it’s an issue at home, school or mental health concerns that motivate you to go, therapists can help your children understand and express their thoughts and feelings. You might be scared to take your children to therapy at risk of being judged as a parent, but experienced counsellors will have met hundreds of families like you and present...
A child spreads their wings and prepares to leave the family nest, as all children must. This is a painful process for everyone, but surviving well in adulthood depends upon a healthy break away from our primary caregivers. Children leave, in order that they may return. They will not return as a child, but as an independent young adult, who, like us, will make their mistakes. We watch them and run in to pick up the pieces when they ask for help, but mostly we distance ourselves and endure the...
Kids worry. Feeling anxious, having doubts, or being worried is pretty normal at any age. For those who are experiencing OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), they may feel unable to stop focusing on those feelings - no matter how much they want to - which can compel them to behave in certain ways.
Although OCD most commonly occurs for those over the age of 21, children as young as five have been diagnosed, with between 30-50% of adults with OCD reporting that their symptoms started...
We wouldn’t hesitate to talk to kids about their physical health. In our day-to-day lives, we teach kids more about living a healthier, more active lifestyle through food choices, picking up hobbies and clubs that focus on physical activity, and explaining how our actions and choices can impact our bodies physically. Why should it be any different when it comes to talking and teaching kids about mental health?
It’s easy to say that we should feel just as comfortable talking to children...
In this heart-warming, delightful book, you will find moving stories of the authors' work with children around the world, in many different cultures and settings, schools, communities and refugee camps. They are beautiful, transformative and magical stories. Barbara and Heather Williams’ work is underpinned by their faith that every child is born with innate wisdom and that the role of adults is to nurture this wisdom and enable it to flourish. If we offer the person-centred qualities of...
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