Children and Parents Counselling

(Creating Closeness Curriculum)

Research shows that absence of closeness in families leads to substance abuse and emotional disturbance. The Creating Closeness Curriculum was designed to help children to stay on track by restoring connection between parents or (significant caregivers) and children. By this we mean, that we do the following:

• Assess the family (could be one parent and child)
• Determine where closeness is missing
• Identify the parenting style and help the parent to implement behaviours that foster closeness & reconnection.

According to the research, there are eight clusters of parenting styles. Each cluster is different and produces a different response in the child. The figure below illustrates in yellow the type of drug "used" by children and adolescents, according to the overriding style of parenting.




The first three styles of parenting produced the most stability in children. The remaining five led to addictions, emotional disturbance, poor peer relationships, juvenile delinquency, and truancy.

Most parents love their children, but because love is concrete concept to a child, they need to see it in action to experience it. The belief is "If I cannot see it with your actions, then I am not loved by you." So if family closeness insulates our children from problems we need to work out what it is, and how to create it and prevent these problems. Creating Closeness Curriculum teaches parents how to be credible and gain their children's attention in order to convey love.