News Release
14 May 2009
Skylight highlights importance of counselling
In recognition of Counselling Awareness Week (May 22-29), Skylight is highlighting Rachel’s story. Rachel* is a typical example of the reason families come to Skylight - to get support through difficult times.
Skylight provides grief, trauma and loss counselling in the greater Wellington region, running programmes in Newtown, Lower Hutt and Porirua. Skylight aims to build on children and young people’s natural resilience, to build confidence and self-esteem so that they can cope with significant change and loss in their lives, now and in the future.
Skylight’s Chief Executive, Mrs Bice Awan says, “It is important to remember that for every child or young person experiencing tough times, there is a huge ripple effect. Not only are their families impacted, but also the communities in which young people and their families/whanau are a part of.”
Rachel’s parents first came across Skylight when they went to a Parenting for Separation course, which Skylight provides for the Ministry of Justice. They recognised that years of acrimony had impacted on Rachel and contributed to her low moods and difficulties with anger.
When they later discovered that Skylight ran a professionally-led programme specifically for children and young people whose parents had separated, they were keen to give Rachel (aged 10) the chance to learn strategies that help when things are tough and to share with others in similar circumstances.
A concurrent facilitated group for parents gave Rachel’s mother access to the wisdom and encouragement of other group members, helping her to support Rachel through her own grief – a grief that can and does develop in children and young people as a result of families breaking up. Grief, as a reaction to loss or change, can manifest itself in many ways – including physically, mentally, behaviourally and emotionally.
It was worthwhile “sharing experiences and gaining good advice from other parents” says Claire, Rachel’s mother. "It was a really positive thing to do."
Rachel has since returned to Skylight for individual counselling as new challenges at school with friendships and bullying have arisen. She says, “It’s a cool place. I know I'm not the only one who gets sad and angry and I now know what helps when I get stuck."
Rachel’s story is not unusual. In fact, it is estimated that 250,000 children/young people in New Zealand are impacted by trauma, loss and grief. The resilience of these young people will dictate the future of our country.
“Every day, through our counselling and other programmes, Skylight does what it can to minimise the negative impact that grief, loss or change can have on young people and their families,” Bice Awan said.
Every year, in the Wellington region alone, Skylight supports 1,000 children directly. They also work with agencies and organisations and provide tailor-made information packs for families affected by any issue relating to grief, loss or change.