Clayfield Counselling Services

Newsletter Archive

May 2011

News

Jenny Collier, the principal of our practice, will be on sabbatical for the next 5 weeks, as she is completing a placement in the United Kingdom and taking some much deserved personal time. Jenny will be unavailable between the 20th May 2011 and 25th June 2011. We have a team of Social Workers, Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists who work within our practice, should you need to see someone during Jenny’s absence.

As of the 1st July, our prices will be increasing, so they are more in line with the recommended pricing of the APS & AASW, since they have been frozen for the last few years. The increase is not substantial and if you have any queries please feel free to contact our office on (07) 3862 6622.

When can a child be a child?

Twenty years ago, society was more open, children could play in the front yard or go to a friend’s house without their parents fretting too much, these days parents have become fearful of what their children may become exposed to. Many parents are fearful because our children are being exposed to the dangers of the world, before they are old enough to understand what they are being told.

For some, our lives have become so busy and hectic that we don’t stop to realise that children are extremely perceptive and as much as we try to shield them from what is happening, they know that something is wrong.

One area that we have noticed a rising trend in: is the stress that exams and high school can place on a teenager. This stress can manifest itself in a number of ways, including:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Anxiety
• Over or under-eating
• Behavioural changes.
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Zoning out for hours in from of TV or computer

What many parents don’t realise is that high school can be extremely stressful, not only do teens feel the need to succeed, but many have parents or family members who have high expectations. Some schools also place pressure on students to succeed in their studies. For many the sheer volume of homework is a daunting prospect. So it is not surprising then, that teenagers are having to grow up and know there future, before they are able to understand what is happening. We have become so structured in our thinking that by the time our children graduate from high school, they become lost, because they are faced with too many choices. An apt description would be walking into a candy store, and being told to choose one from a possible hundred.

However it isn’t just the parent who may have expectations about their children; society tells these young people, that they are the next generation and should contribute to those who have been before them. That they should know what it is they should do with their lives. This is hardly going to help reduce the anxiety or stress that many high school students face.

There are a number of healthy ways to reduce stress in addition to counselling which enable a person to understand what may be causing the stressor in their life and how to address them in future. Some useful ways to relax and recharge are:

• Writing in a journal – if you know what is causing the stressor, then it becomes easier to overcome the problem.
• Listen to music – watch a movie with family – take a time out if it all becomes too much
• Connect with others – i.e. friends or family
• Exercise regularly – i.e. Go for a walk, or find a sport that you enjoy
• Eat a healthy diet
• Reduce caffeine and sugar – which will allow you to relax and sleep better
• Make sure you are getting enough sleep, often stress can be exacerbated by a lack of sleep.

Thought of the Month
“Stress is not what happens to us. It’s our response TO what happens. And RESPONSE is something we can choose.” – Maureen Killoran

Useful References

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm