Sep 30, 2016

Western Health will be offering several support and education groups for parents, caregivers and adolescents in the coming months.

Parenting Information Sessions –Children
This 3 session support/education program helps parents/caregivers build skills for parenting children age 2-12. Some of the following topics included in the sessions are: child development, temperament, parenting styles, overindulgence, self-care, preventative and corrective discipline. Information pertaining to ADHD, including types and characteristics, medications, common challenges and creating change will be covered as required.

Parenting Information Sessions –Adolescents
This 3 session support/education program helps parents/caregivers build skills for parenting teenagers. Some of the following topics included in the sessions are: teenage development, temperament, communication skills, conflict resolution, preventative and corrective discipline. Information pertaining to ADHD, including types and characteristics, medications, common challenges and creating change will be covered as required.

Choices and Consequences
This 8 session support/education program helps parents/caregivers build skills for parenting teens with problematic substance use. Some of the topics included in the sessions are: drug education/awareness, signs and symptoms of drug use, stages of use, communication skills, enabling, logical consequences, harm reductions, treatment issues, relapse/relapse prevention.

Anxiety/Depression
This 10 week support/education group is for teens experiencing concerns related to anxiety and/or depression. Some topics include: understanding symptoms of anxiety/depression, exploring distorted thoughts and negative beliefs, increasing coping strategies and self-care.

Anger Management
Anger Management is an 8 week group for adolescents to address how anger has impacted their lives and to learn more effective coping skills when dealing with conflict. Participants will learn about their own triggers and warning signs of anger, how to think and act differently when angry, and how to communicate appropriately when frustrated or angry. It will also explore how substance use can impact anger.

Dealing with Difficult Behaviours
Dealing with Difficult Behaviors is an 8 week advanced parenting group for parents whose children present with problematic behavioral issues. Topics covered during this 2 hour group includes parental self-care, the wave of behavior, preventative strategies, managing behavioral peaks, corrective strategies, emotional regulation, overindulgence and the prevention of future behaviors. The group is psycho-educational in nature with simulations to teach parents the practical skills of addressing behavior.

Beyond Worry
This is a three week support/education group for parents of children between the ages of 5-12. Topics covered include: What is anxiety, fear versus anxiety, anxiety disorders, introduction to cognitive behavioural therapy, parenting approaches to support children with anxiety.

A referral is required to participate in these groups and can be made by calling 634-4171. Please call at your earliest convenience if you are interested in participating.

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Media Contact:
Tara J. Pye
Director of Communications (Acting)
Western Health
T: 637-5252
E: tarajpye@westernhealth.nl.ca