Losing a loved one can bring about many unexpected changes. When the deceased is someone extremely close like a partner or family member, the loss brings with it other or secondary losses which impact on the lives of the surviving family members. The personal experience of loss should be looked at individually, as no two […]
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Relationship & Families
Losing a Loved One: Stages of Grief
As complicated as it sounds, grief is a process which can be worked through. A famous psychiatrist, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross is recognised as one of the foremost authorities in the field of death and dying. Her first book, On Death and Dying is required reading in many universities in the schools of medicine and social sciences. […]
- March 5, 2008
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- Ageing Issues, Loss & Grief, Relationship & Families
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Losing a Loved One: Common Reactions
The impact of grief can cause tremendous chaos to all aspects of our life. We all respond differently to grief but the most important thing to remember is that most reactions are normal. Sometimes we find these responses overwhelming but knowing they are normal helps us to come to terms with the changes. It is […]
- March 4, 2008
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- Loss & Grief, Relationship & Families, Spirituality & Religion
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Series: Coping with the Death of a Loved One
Losing someone you love can be like losing one half of yourself. The pain and emptiness felt during the grieving process can go on for months or years, however no two people will ever respond to the same situation in the same way. Working through grief is a day by day, week by week process. […]
- March 3, 2008
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- Loss & Grief, Relationship & Families
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Coping Effectively with Change: Carla’s Case Study
Carla is a 37 year old woman who works as a manager in a large engineering firm. She is married with two children a boy aged 10 (Carlos) and girl aged 8 (Anna). Her husband Rodrigo is great with the kids and very devoted and loving to Carla but he has recently been laid off […]
- February 8, 2008
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- Lifespan Development, Relationship & Families, Stress Management
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A Case of Using Logical Consequences
Richard is a 41-year-old plant operator in a heavy machinery company. He works long hours and must start very early each day. Twelve months ago he accepted a transfer from a country location to a capital city 250 kilometres away from his family. Due to financial obligations this was seen as a necessity. He travelled […]
- January 23, 2008
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- Case Studies, Relationship & Families
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Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Effective Options
In the previous hypothetical case examples (Aaron & Marnie) some recommendations were made, that are based on both practitioner judgement of situations and evidence via the literature and research. Let’s now look at some approaches that identify effective parenting outcomes. Much will depend upon the specific age of the teenager, as to what emotional input […]
- December 20, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Marnie’s Case Study
Marnie is a 16 year old girl (an only child) who attends a local private girls school in the city. Marnie is always at the top of her class and her report cards are exemplary. Marnie is actively involved with music, drama and dancing in and out of school all of which she excels at. […]
- December 19, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Clinical Mental Health, Relationship & Families
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Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Aaron’s Case Study
Aaron is a 15 year old boy who attends a local public high school in an industrialised area of the city. He lives with his mum, dad and two brothers, Will aged 9 and Brad aged 11 years. Aaron has recently been in trouble with the law (a year ago), having stolen some goods from […]
- December 18, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Ineffective Options
Given that the research literature have identified that problems associated with youth such as, anorexia and bulimia, bullying and other acting out behaviours, substance misuse, marginalisation of certain groups of people in communities, abuse, self-harm and suicide are significant, what do parents go through in attempting to care for their early adolescent child or children? […]
- December 17, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Eating Disorders
Now that we’ve covered suicide prevention, there are other problems often associated with youth that are a bit more intractable. Eating disorders tend to fall into this category especially amongst adolescent girls. According to Gillis (2000, cited in McMurray, 2003, 147): ‘Adolescents’ images of themselves are embedded in the way they see their own bodies, […]
- December 14, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Clinical Mental Health, Relationship & Families
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Resilience and Suicide Prevention
The literature clearly point to the fact that there are certain factors that protect youth or build resilience in youth against suicide. According to Fuller, McGraw and Goodyear (cited in Rowling, Martin & Walker, 2001, 85-86): ‘The factors that protect young people against suicidal behaviour include social support and their relationships with family and peers, […]
- December 13, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families, Self-harming & Suicide
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Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Resilience
Tunmore (cited in Regel & Roberts, 2002, 73) outlined various mental health promoting factors (based on evidence) that are relevant to adolescent kids and to parents alike to reflect upon. They include: Individual Self-esteem, sociability and autonomy Social support systems that encourage personal effort and coping Good communication skills A sense of humour Religious faith […]
- December 11, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Youth Behaviour
In the preceding discussion it was established to some extent that social and community values, attitudes and beliefs have a major impact on the way that adolescent children are portrayed and how parents are also portrayed. Even so there is still a lot of contradictory evidence out there (Eckersley in Rowling, Martin & Walker, 2001, […]
- December 10, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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Parenting a Problem Adolescent: Common Challenges
There are so many possible situations that it would be difficult to even briefly describe them here. ‘Problem’ adolescents may have a variety of different health and learning related needs, problems or issues. The most significant sorts of problems for parents and their children during early to mid adolescence relate to differences in the way […]
- December 7, 2007
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- Children & Adolescents, Relationship & Families
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