Care First: Emotional crisis is a universal experience

Enter the Helicopter parent Parents these days want t o control every aspect of a child?s life ? from friendships and hobbies to job interviews ? stifling his ability to make decisions Veenu Sandhu / New Delhi Sep 08, 2012, 00:18 IST ........The extent of helicopter parenting may vary from mild to extreme but it often proves to be counterproductive, say counsellors and child psychologists. For example, when a class of eight-year-olds from Delhi went on a picnic, the parents of one child followed the bus in their car. They may have done this simply out of extreme concern for their child, given that newspapers are flooded with reports of accidents during school trips. To the child, however, this sends out a different message — that his parents perhaps do not trust him and this exposes him to the mockery of his peers. Some children, say psychologists, might also feel reassured that their parents are always there for them. Such messages take root and the child does not lear...

COUNSEL TO SUCCESS With students seeking help not just to cope with stress but also in making career choices, counselling has become an attractive career option. Aaditi Isaac report Modern day counselling can help channelise one’s energies positively. In today’s world of competition, pressures and deadlines, counsellors play a vital role in shaping the life of children. Counselling of all types — school counselling, career counselling, or even clinical counselling involves a great deal of listening, giving direction, and a lot of patience. The areas in psychology that are covered at the graduate level include general and social psychology, statistics, abnormal/clinical psychology, industrial and organisational psychology and developmental psychology. Students can become counsellors by doing their Master’s. They can also pursue certificate and diploma programmes by NCERT and Ignou. SCHOOL COUNSELLING With CBSE making it compulsory for all schools to have counsellors on board, sc...

(HealthDay News) -- Social phobia is an irrational fear of social situations, including being judged or scrutinized by others. The U.S. National Library of Medicine suggests these potential remedies for coping with social phobia: Receiving cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify the causes of such fears and learning ways to control them. Slowly beginning to attend parties and other social gatherings. Practicing social skills in a group therapy setting. Getting plenty of sleep and exercise, and eating meals on a regular schedule. Limiting or avoiding caffeine, over-the-counter cold medications and other stimulant medications.

Asian Age Uma Devarajan | Hyderabad Family suicide pacts seem to have become a new but dangerous trend. Three women from a family at LB Nagar in Hyderabad died and the fourth is battling for her life after they all consumed pesticide a couple of days ago. Another family from Karimnagar also made a similar pact, ostensibly due to harassment of their teenage daughter by eve-teasers. The mother and daughter died after ingesting poison, while the father is undergoing treatment. Bangalore newspapers reported a family suicide case too. Family suicide pacts seem to have become a new but dangerous trend. Three women from a family at LB Nagar in Hyderabad died and the fourth is battling for her life after they all consumed pesticide a couple of days ago..... Why are families becoming so desperate? Delhi-based psychotherapist Suneel Vatsyayan says , "We are a society in transition, particularly in metro or semi-urban areas. These changes are so fast that there is a contradiction between th...

Celeb parents strike right note Uma Devarajan Raising children is a path full of trials and and elations. Into each parent’s life comes the instant when a passing remark from the "child" brings realisation that he or she is now an independent, self-reliant individual. The moment is usually a defining one. Just wishing for independent, responsible children is not enough, though. "Values have to be inculcated from day one. Don’t think that your child will learn when he grows up," says Delhi-based psychotherapist Suneel Vatsyayan. Monica Burman, wife of Dabur India chairman V.C. Burman, agrees. "Emotional support and tact in dealing with sensitive issues is very important. Make them feel that you are always there for them," she says. Coping with a child’s independence can be a bittersweet experience. It can at once be a source of immense pride and regret that the child is no longer within one’s protective circle. And knowing that your child is on the ...