Articles

November 11, 2022

First counselling session – what happens in the counselling room?

Let’s demystify therapy and counselling. In Aotearoa, counselling is most often based on conversation, though there are also modalities which use movement, drawing, art or the body to foster healing. To start with, you may be asked to fill in a simple form. Feel free to just put in the basics, the counsellor will likely prefer to get to know you as a person, rather than a set of information on a ...
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5 tips for when teens have a difficult attitude

February 19, 2021
When our child moves into the teenage years, it often means a change in attitude. The simplest of requests met with rudeness and an atmosphere that is tense and negative. It’s like a stranger who dislikes us has been forced ...
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Covid-19 – How to support your children

March 31, 2020
There is a great deal of worry and concern being expressed about the Covid-19 Virus and the impact it is having on our usual routines and lifestyles. While this can be challenging there is also a great opportunity to show our children how to stay steady and calm ...
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Helping our children be motivated

February 17, 2020
It can often feel like our job as parents is to motivate our children to do well at school and home. This can lead to a focus on rewards and punishments. However, research on motivation is very clear that the ...
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Do you know your Parenting Style?

November 25, 2019
Research by Diana Baumrind, a development psychologist, showed that parents fall into four main categories or styles: Permissive, Authoritative, Uninvolved and Authoritarian. This refers to the overall climate in which they raise their children, rather than the actions they take. So, with-in ...
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What is attachment parenting and why is it important?

November 4, 2019
Attachment parenting is about the quality of the relationship between the caregiver and the child. It is a measure of the child’s connection to an adult caregiver and is formed when the child is young. Attachment research has shown how important ...
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Wellbeing tips for parents

September 10, 2019
As parents, we need to look after our own wellbeing. Often, we want to believe that we are superheroes and can keep on top of everything.  But we all know that is far from the truth and that there are ...
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Positive parenting tips for happier families

April 9, 2019
The term “positive parenting” is everywhere and has become increasingly popular over the years. But what does it really mean? We know from the calls we get that many parents feel confused and disempowered by the contradictory information out there. ...
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How to talk to your child about terrorism

March 20, 2019
Parent Help joins with all New Zealanders who have condemned the horrific violence on Friday 15th March at the two mosques in Christchurch. To our Muslim communities, especially the families who have lost loved ones, and to those who endured the ...
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Parenting young people in a digital age

January 29, 2019
One of the biggest and most complicated challenges that parents face as their children grow in today’s world seems to be related to spending time online – surfing the net or on social media sites. Having almost constant access to ...
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Ways to handle toddler tantrums

January 14, 2019
There is a reason that you’ll often hear people talking about “the terrible twos” and “three-nagers”; parenting toddlers is hard work! One of the biggest challenges for parents is dealing with the tantrums and meltdowns that are commonplace during this ...
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