Self-harm: the truths and the myths

by Patrick Goodlet | Mar 1, 2021 | Children and Young People, mental health, self-harm, young people

Self-harm, or to give it it’s up to date classification ‘non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), is defined in the NHS dictionary as ‘deliberate injury to oneself, typically as a manifestation of a psychological or psychiatric disorder.’ Self-harm is basically behaviour...

Scribble game: how to help kids relax and open up about emotions

by Sinead Rowe | Aug 20, 2020 | Children and Young People, mental health, parenting, the spark, Tips, young people

Edith Kramer, a pioneer in the field of Art Psychotherapy, created the ‘scribble game’ for use in the early stages of therapy. Her idea was to create an unthreatening way for children to express themselves and open up about emotional issues. In this article, Children...

Easing lockdown: how to help children learn new rules

by Ross Gemmell | Jun 18, 2020 | Children and Young People, Coronavirus, mental health, parenting, the spark, Tips, young people

As the process of easing lockdown gathers pace, the rules we need to adhere to are becoming more complex. Younger children may struggle to understand or stick to them. Presenting parents and carers with the challenge of helping them understand and follow the new...

Adolescence: 4 truths adults need to know

by Joanna Herman-Waddell | Feb 4, 2021 | Children and Young People, mental health, parenting, the spark, Tips, young people

Adolescence can be one of the most emotionally turbulent times in a person’s life; hormones, changing responsibilities, the rewiring of the prefrontal cortex of the brain and difficult social and emotional situations can all take a toll on the emotional...

Using active listening to help ease our way out of lockdown

by John Kennedy | Jun 22, 2020 | Children and Young People, Coronavirus, mental health, parenting, the spark, Tips, young people

The easing of Coronavirus lockdown is cause for much celebration. But for some households, it may increase tension between family members. Children and Young People’s Counsellor John Kennedy looks at why active listening could help parents and carers manage...

Loss: how to help children and young people cope

by John Kennedy | May 26, 2020 | Children and Young People, families, mental health, parenting, the spark, Tips, young people

Change is an inevitable and necessary part of growing up. With every change there is an element of loss, even when the changes are welcome. Whether it is the grief that comes with the loss of a favourite toy as a child or the death of a beloved grandparent, change...