It shows counseling with parents

1. Counselling with Parents
Dr. Sudip Chowdhury
Clinical Psychologist
Assistant Professor
Isabella Thoburn College

2. Definition and Overview
• Parenting counseling is a type of service that aims to
provide the necessary knowledge, tools, guidance, and
most especially support to parents without bias or
judgment. This way, they become more fully equipped to
take care of their children.
• Although becoming a parent is rewarding, it is also
challenging. The responsibilities that parents must fulfill
are huge. They are required to:

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• Raise good children who can contribute to the society
• Provide a home that is loving, supportive, and caring
• Meet all the needs of their children such as a home,
education, food, healthcare, and education
• Take care of their respective spouses
• Support the community they are in to create a safe
and productive place for their families
• Give their families a comfortable life
• They need to do all these while they also try to meet
their own needs and cope with their personal
struggles.

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• Parents are susceptible to different types
of problems that can greatly affect how
they take care or manage their families,
especially in how they guide and raise
their children.
• According to Parenting, some of the most
common issues faced by parents include:

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• Separation or divorce
• Child behavior and development
• Aggression or violence
• Family tension
• Confidence or self-esteem
• Substance abuse
• Teen issues
• Mental health
• Parenting counseling offers modalities or therapies that help
parents gain a better understanding of their parenting style,
face and eventually conquer their personal issues, and even
restore the family, bringing back harmony and peace in the
household.

6. Who Should Undergo and Expected Results
• Parenting counseling is recommended to all
parents. However, it is more of a necessity for
those who are:
• Experiencing marital issues – Problems in the
marriage such as finances and infidelity have a
large impact on the marriage and children. Studies
have shown that marital infidelity can result in low
self-esteem and a feeling of abandonment in
children. They may also develop skewed
perceptions about love and marriage.
• Suffering from a health problem – Health
problems including mental health issues can
prevent parents from being with their family,
especially with their children, as often as they like.

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• Undergoing separation or divorce – Separation or divorce is just
as impactful to the children as it is to the parents. While parents
have to cope with being independent after years of being
dependent, children have to deal with the instability of family
relationships as they move from one parent to another. Some
parents may disconnect themselves from the lives of their children,
further increasing such instability as they sometimes look for the
missing parent figure in others. Divorce or separation also
introduces the struggles and stress that come with being a single
parent. Single parents who are also head of the family may find
themselves spending significantly less time for themselves and their
children.
• Experiencing abuse or aggression – Any abuse inflicted on the
parent can build tension, fear, and more aggression in the
household. Children can grow up with anger, indifference, and hate.
Some children may also become aggressors themselves.

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• Coping with loss – A loss of a family member such as a
spouse or a child, a job, or a marriage can disturb not only the
parent but also the children as the former may not be able to
properly carry out his or her responsibilities to the latter.
• Dealing with children’s issues – Children can also be a
source of stress and problems for the parents, especially
since teen behaviors change over time. In one of the recent
studies, it is shown that parents are most concerned with teen
substance abuse. But teens are most worried about mental
health issues and bullying, which are often missed by their
parents.
• Abusing illegal substances such as drugs and alcohol –
Substance abuse can affect many facets of the family,
including financial stability and marital relationships. It also
increases the risk of mental health illness and abuse.

9. How Does the Procedure Work?
• There are two ways on how someone can undergo
parenting counseling. First, the parent may be
referred by their doctor, psychologist, a prominent
member of the community, school, or even
workplace. Second, the parent personally seeks
professional help.
• Either way, a parent counselor meets the parent at
the appointed time. He or she conducts a thorough
interview to identify the main issue, gain a better
understanding of the problem, and assess the
current behavior and state of the parent. From
there, the counselor can suggest a variety of
programs that include:

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• Co-parenting counseling
• Couples counseling
• Divorce adjustment therapy
• Anger management
• Substance abuse rehabilitation and counseling
• At first, the parent counselor works with the parents or parent
with the biggest issue. As the parents respond to the
intervention, other members of the family such as the children
may be invited to participate. In certain instances, parents are
introduced to support groups so they can also learn from
parents who have similar experiences as they do.
• Counselors are expected to work with other professionals
during the program including doctors.

11. Possible Risks and Complications
• Just like in any counseling, parents may be forced
to relive memories or issues that are painful. They
may initially become uncomfortable or anxious to
share them. Some may develop panic attacks or
undergo depression.
• There are also others who may be frustrated or
feel hopeless especially if the results of the
counseling programs are not immediately
achieved. These feelings may eventually force
them to avoid the program altogether, lose trust on
the counselor, or not treat the program or therapy
seriously.