Strongest Families
PLEASE NOTE THIS SERVICE HAS REACHED CAPACITY AND IS CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE
As one of our “virtual care” options, HN REACH offers services to children/youth and their caregivers through the Strongest Families Institute.
Are the Strongest Families counselling services a good fit for your child?
If you answer “yes” to the following questions, the Strongest Families Counselling services may be right for you and your loved ones.
- Is your child or youth experiencing mental health issues?
- Are these mental health issues affecting their well-being and the well-being of your family?
- Are you interested in learning skills to help your child and family?
- Would you be comfortable speaking with a counsellor by phone?
- Do you have access to a phone?
- Could you find time during the week to speak with a counsellor undisturbed by others?
- Does your child/youth meet the age criteria?(ages 3 and up to their 18th birthday)
Three counselling programs are offered for caregivers, children and youth. All of the programs utilize “coaches” who support caregivers to learn new skills by following a series of learning modules to guide the sessions. The modules assist caregivers whose children are experiencing challenges with attention concerns, behaviour concerns or anxiety concerns. The support and coaching are customized to meet a family’s needs. The three programs being offered are:
Parents Empowering Kids (3-12 years of age):
Our Parents Empowering Kids Program (PEK) for children 3-12 years old empowers caregivers. Learn to deal with common child behaviour problems such as temper outbursts, not listening, verbal and physical aggression, and difficulties paying attention. You will learn how to manage challenging behaviours and situations. You will receive a full toolkit to help you and your child track your journey. This will include a parent handbook and DVD and/or a login to our secure website, behaviour chart for home, a daily report card for the school, and weekly sessions with your coach. This is available in English and French as well as the choice of one-on-one coaching or group-based with other parents dealing with similar challenges.
Child Anxiety Program (6-11 years of age):
This program educates parents and children (ages 6-11) about anxiety and guides them as they learn relaxation skills and how to face worry in real life. The program typically deals with difficulties separating from loved ones, worry about performance, and specific fears. Symptoms you may be seeing in your child could be sudden aches and pains (belly/head), lack of attention, withdrawal, and negative thoughts. In this program, your child will explore what anxiety is, practice techniques to help ease anxiety, use their imagination and learn how to take control of anxiety by creating a plan to defeat worry. All program materials are free to the client. Programs are available in English and French.
Defeat Anxiety–Anxiety Program (12-17 years of age):
The Defeat Anxiety Program helps youth ages 12-17 learn skills to overcome, control and gradually face their anxiety. Youth are guided, by their personal Coach, to overcome anxiety surrounding school, social situations, peer acceptance, applying to university or jobs, going to job interviews, getting a driver’s license, and many other common challenges that youth face. All program materials are free to the client. Programs are available in English and French.
Location:
The Strongest Families counselling programs occur from the comfort of your own home. Once a week for 4–5 months, you are coached by a counsellor by phone. Coaching sessions may also include videos.
When:
The counselling takes place at a time agreed upon by you and your counsellor.
Cost:
Free to families in Haldimand and Norfolk
To make a referral:
A parent, caregiver or youth over 12 years of age can make the referral through Contact HN:
Phone: 1-800-265-8087 x350
After a referral is made, a Strongest Families counsellor will contact you. At this time, you will arrange dates and times for your phone and/or Internet coaching sessions.