Services

Support Groups: 1. Parenting support group 2. Ministers and spouses support group.

Parent Support Groups Parent support groups provide informal mutual support and opportunities to discuss parenting challenges and strategies. Parenting is one of the hardest and most important jobs anyone can do. Since babies are not born with instruction manuals (LOL), every stage along the way brings more questions and difficult choices. Yet honest conversations about the challenges of parenting are rare—especially when a parent or child is struggling. That’s where our parenting support groups come in. Research shows that support groups provide healthy parenting skills, an increased sense of empowerment, and a feeling of belonging. Moreover, our parenting support groups can be particularly helpful for parents of teens who are coping with anxiety, depression, peer presure, broken relationship or marriages or other mental health issues. Here are five reasons why you should join our parenting support group. It makes a powerful positive difference. 1. Our Parenting Support Groups Remind Parents That They Are Not Alone Parenting support groups assure parents of troubled teens that they are not alone. They can talk to others who understand the challenges, emotions, and practicalities that they’re dealing with every day. In addition, they can blow off steam in a supportive, nonjudgmental environment. Parents sometimes believe that they’re “bad parents” if their child is struggling. As a result, their shame and embarrassment can prevent them from talking to other parents about their experience. Furthermore, parents may feel like they’re the only ones having a hard time. Thus, they believe that other parents have “perfect” relationships with their kids and know just what to do when their child is suffering. Hence, our parenting support groups are a reminder that there are no “perfect” parents or “perfect” kids. All parents doubt themselves sometimes. And everyone makes mistakes along the way. 2. Our Parenting Support Groups Are a Form of Self-Care Parenting isn’t easy even when your child is well and happy. As a result, parent burnout is common. In one study, a control group of parents of healthy kids was compared to a group of parents of chronically ill children. Subsequently, 36 percent of parents of sick kids showed clinical burnout symptoms. That’s not surprising. However, 20 percent of the control group showed clinical levels of burnout as well. In other words, one out of every five parents is suffering from burnout. Consequently, parents who are burnt out have less energy. In addition, they have less patience and perspective. Therefore, their ability to care for their children is compromised. Parents who find reliable, positive self-care approaches are better able to care for their children. Additionally, they do so with creativity and resilience. Moreover, they tend to have strong relationships with their kids. Therefore, parenting support groups are a form of self-care that promotes both parents’ and kids’ mental health. 3. A Way to Access Resources and Build a Support Network Another advantage of our parenting support groups is the access we provide to information and resources. For example, parents can get referrals to other support services. Furthermore, other parents may be able to recommend outpatient or residential programs that helped their teens. In addition, parents share services, books, websites, and other parenting support resources that they found helpful. Moreover, parents of teens can work together to come up with creative ideas for helping a teen whose behavior is challenging. 4. Parenting Support Groups Help Parents Build Skills Our support group for parents of teenagers is a great place to get positive parenting tips. That’s because parents talk about the coping skills that work for them. In addition, they share their tools for creating healthy communication with their teenagers. And what works for one parent sometimes works for another parent as well. Plus, parents also learn what didn’t work well for others. Hence, they can avoid certain pitfalls. Furthermore, parents can receive feedback about whether they are overreacting to particular teen issues or behaviors. Or they discover that they might not be doing enough. Since other parents have probably experienced something similar, they can give honest feedback. Moreover, our parenting support groups provide a space and time for parents to focus on what’s happening with their teen. And they can look at how the entire family is affected. This space for reflection can be hard to find during daily life. That’s because parents are in the midst of coping with the moment-to-moment challenges that arise. Therefore, focused time in a parent support group provides the opportunity to consider options. As a result, parents can make thoughtful plans and decide on next steps to support the family’s health and thriving. 5. A Place to Find Hope and Humor Often parents come to a parenting support group for the first time in the midst of a crisis. And they may find it hard to imagine that things will ever be set right again. In addition, they may be terrified about their teen’s emotional and mental health and their future. As a result, spending time with other parents can be an enormous relief. Especially helpful are stories of teenagers who have been through treatment and are making steady progress. Such stories provide a sense of hope and relief. They are a reminder that teens have a very good chance of recovery when they receive comprehensive, evidence-based treatment. Moreover, dealing with a teen mental health crisis or difficult teen behavior is serious work. However, parents benefit from maintaining a sense of humor. And it’s easier to find humor in a situation when we can share our stories and experiences with others who understand what we’re going through.