Parenting Issues
Common parenting issues and how counselling can help
Becoming a parent can be daunting, with lots of conflicting information on the best way to bring up a child. Parents may also place unrealistic expectations on themselves to raise a ‘prefect’ child and be a ‘perfect parent.’ The reality is that everyone will experience difficulties and limitations in their parenting role. With such pressures to contend with, many parents can benefit from the support that counselling can provide to overcome the most difficult aspects of raising children.
How can counselling help with parenting issues?
Becoming a parent can be a difficult role to undertake. The experience can become daunting, with lots of conflicting information on the best way to bring up a child. Parents may also place unrealistic expectations on themselves to raise a ‘prefect’ child and be a ‘perfect parent.’ The reality is that everyone will experience difficulties and limitations in their parenting role. With such pressures to contend with, many parents can benefit from the support that counselling can provide to overcome the most difficult aspects of raising children.
Counselling and psychotherapy can help to address a number of parenting issues, from emotional or relationship problems affecting parenting to specific issues such as toilet training or bullying. Therapy can also help parents to explore their own childhood experiences and examine the parenting they received. Most forms of therapy can allow parents to express their intimate thoughts and feelings regarding parenthood within a safe space. It can also provide the opportunity to understand the parenting choices they make and implement strategies to help them make changes to their parenting.
What are some common parenting issues?
Common parenting issues that can be addressed through counselling include:
· Disagreeing with your partner on how to parent your child
· Anger management issues
· Difficulties balancing the demands of having a career and being a parent
· A lack of romance between you and your partner after becoming parents
· Struggling to cope as a single parent
· Your child is struggling at school
· Your child is being bullied at school
· Difficulties establishing a relationship with your child
· Difficulties establishing a relationship with your step-children
· Difficulties sharing parenting responsibilities with an ex-partner
· An inability to utilize parenting skills learnt from your parents
What are the benefits of counselling for parenting issues?
Counselling and psychotherapy can help you to examine unhelpful thoughts, emotions, and behaviors that are affecting your parenting. It can relieve symptoms of anxiety, low self-confidence, and depression that you may be feeling. Counselling may also help improve communication and expression within the family setting.
Therapy may also allow you to understand the origins of your parenting techniques or offer opportunities to address and work through confusing or painful childhood experiences and emotions.