Parenting Issues & Support

Parenting does not always come naturally. As a parent, you may come upon a situation that you have little experience dealing with and feel uncertain as to what the ‘best’ way of dealing with this situation may be. Even if you have more than one child – that doesn’t mean you aren’t constantly facing new situations. Challenges in parenting can involve diagnoses or (not yet diagnosed) mental, physical or developmental issues or disorders.

Whatever the case, these and other issues (and the associated stress) can make parenting feel harder than it should.

Some parenting issues and symptoms of parent stress include:

  • Fear of your child
  • Feelings of inadequacy
  • Having more questions than answers
  • Uncontrollable children
  • Depression
  • Not knowing how to proceed with disciplinary measures
  • Feeling the need to be perfect
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Not knowing how to deal with behavioural issues
  • Not knowing how to deal with your child’s disorder diagnosis (autism, oppositional defiance disorder, ADD/ADHD. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, learning disorders, etc.)

When is it time to get help?

Every parent faces challenges. It’s common to feel that some days are simply overwhelming and you wonder how successful you are as a parent. However, those days should not be the norm. If you are feeling disassociated from your child, resentment towards your child, relationships with your other children, your partner and others are being affected, or just feeling at a loss of what to do, then it is time to seek some support.

Parenting issues treatment methods

Your therapist will talk with you (and perhaps your child/ren) to determine what is causing the issue you are facing. They may recommend an assessment if a behaviour or developmental disorder is suspected or not yet diagnosed. They may treat how you are feeling (depression, anxiety, etc.) and they may also recommend couple or family therapy. Effective family treatment methods include:

  • Behavioural therapy tends to view human beings and behaviour with the assumption that humans are a product of their sociocultural conditioning and environment, looking at the current problems and the factors influencing them and emphasizes behaviour changes more than the underlying unconscious processes.
  • Family systems therapy looks at the family as a one emotional unit. This therapeutic approach looks at the relationships within the family and the structure as a whole.
  • Structural family therapy involves looking at the structures within the family unit. Changing the underlying structure tends to cause a ripple effect on the family. This therapy analyzes the hierarchical structure, subsystems and boundaries within the family.

Every family situation is unique and the treatment will depend on your individual circumstances Solving parenting issues can be a multi-step process than involves talk therapy to work, as well as parenting classes or other forms of training. An evaluation completed by a licensed counsellor in order to come up with a therapy plan is the first step in the process.

What will I get out of treatment with Insight Psychological?

Learning how to reflect on, and adapt your parenting style and what works best for your child can be a real game changer for you and your family. Receiving a diagnosis or learning about a behavioural, developmental or mental health disorder is an important part of effectively dealing with and adapting to the disorder, and supporting your child. Parenting will always have challenges because children will always challenge their parents, but you can find relief and learn effective coping tools from therapy.

If you’re ready to work through parenting issues, please contact Insight Psychological today.

Brooke Hendricks

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling

Adults, Assessments

Loriann Quinlan

Counselling Edmonton South, Counselling Edmonton West, Online Counselling

Adults, Seniors

Brandi Enns

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Families, LGBTQ community, Sexuality, Assessments

Sabrina Brady

Counselling Edmonton Central, Counselling Edmonton North, Online Counselling, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality, Assessments

Karla Buchholz

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality

Terri Mulveney

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), LGBTQ community

Nikesha Deenoo

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples, Sexuality

Nicole Donovan

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling

Adults, Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17)

Kathryn Maier

Counselling Edmonton North, Online Counselling

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Families, Assessments

Robyn Campbell

Calgary Counselling, Online Counselling

Adults, Children (3-5), Children & Youth (6-12), Seniors, LGBTQ community, Assessments

Kelly Jenny

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling

Adults, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality

Desiree Stewart

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling, Counselling Edmonton Central

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples

Anna Neale

Counselling Edmonton South, Online Counselling, Counselling Edmonton West

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Seniors, Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality, Assessments

Chantelle Owen

Counselling Edmonton South, Counselling Edmonton Central, Online Counselling

Adults, Adolescents (13-17), Families, Couples, LGBTQ community, Sexuality

Dr. Hendriatta Wong

Corporate Services

Bob Stenhouse

Corporate Services

Shirley Leonard

Corporate Services

Shaheel Hooda

Corporate Services

Lisa Standeven

Corporate Services

Tara-Lee Goerlitz

Corporate Services

Jaci Freeman

Counselling Edmonton South

Adults, Children & Youth (6-12), Adolescents (13-17), Seniors

At this time, Insight Psychological does not have therapists who specialize in this specific area, but that doesn’t mean we can’t help you! Please contact us to talk with our Intake Personnel to find a therapist that is a good fit for you and your unique circumstances.