My Philosophy
 

Mental Health is a very complex subject. It is not an easy subject matter to understand, but in our society with so many pressures, it is a topic that should be spread around.  For anyone can become mentally unwell.  Mental Illness does not discriminate, and it is critical that the person with Mental Health issues be supported to get the right help. The link between Mental Health and Mental “ill-health” or Mental Illness can be looked at as a continuum. In other words our Mental Health fluctuates all the time, but when our Mental Health status is distressing us or affecting our ability to function, then it is time to get help. Unfortunately, our thought processes may be so clouded by our poor state of health, that we don’t realise we need help or alternatively don’t know who to go to to get help.

By learning about Mental Health, the average person is in a better place to assist family, friends or colleagues that may become unwell, and perhaps avert tragic outcomes.  The sooner a person gets help, the quicker will be their recovery and the less likely that their world will completely “fall apart” as work, relationships, studies, finances and physical health are all impacted by mental health issues.  

I do believe that “it takes a village to raise a child” and equally that “the parent is always the parent”. As such it is your rights as a parent that I uphold. I offer assistance without judgement because I know how difficult and complex the role of being a parent can be , often with few supports, few relevant role models and no “one right way to raise a child”.

All of us as parents receive little or no training about how to parent, so Triple P, backed by decades of research can make a big difference! I believe parenting can and should be enjoyable and I use all my resources to assist you to minimise the stress and boost the happiness involved in raising your children.

All children, in fact all people, have additional needs at times. These may be relatively minor or life altering; short term, long term or ongoing.

Children have additional needs for a variety of reasons, including:

• having a disability
• living in complex or vulnerable circumstances
• their cultural, linguistic or family background.

Common disabilities include:

• Intellectual disability.
• Autism spectrum disorder.
• Foetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
• Attention deficit disorder
• Epilepsy.

I have been fortunate that my child and grandchildren do not have disabilities, but I have had the opportunity to work with many families who do have children with disabilities and /or additional needs. What I have observed is that these families still love their children and enjoy parenting, but also experience periods of grieving for the healthy child they anticipated. This often happens while also facing barriers that couldn't have been foreseen, such as stigma and discrimination. 
Parents whose children live with a disability or additional needs, need to be supported to recognise and advocate for themselves as "parents" and "children", equally as worthy as other parents and children. They are not "second best" in any regard. 

Additional strategies for parenting children with disabilities and additional needs can foster relationships and enhance outcomes.