Paul's Story: Managing difficult feelings
Fifteen year old Paul was skipping school and had been caught stealing. His parents were worried that friends were leading their son astray and his teachers were concerned about his academic performance. Paul felt confused and angry at all the attention he was getting.
When Paul and his parents met with their KYDS counsellor there was an obvious difference in perspectives on the issues being discussed. Paul's parents were clear on their concerns but were less able to reflect on what might be affecting their son.
During the session Paul broke down and explained that he was worried about the constant arguments between his parents, he was concerned they would get a divorce and he felt it was all his fault. His parents acknowledged that they were arguing frequently but while they were going through a difficult period in their relationship, they were committed to each other. They had no idea about the impact their debates were having on Paul and his younger brother.
“The path ahead was difficult, however, Paul’s parents were able to adjust the pattern of family communication to reduce the level of conflict at home. ”
“The path ahead was difficult, however, Paul’s parents were able to adjust the pattern of family communication to reduce the level of conflict at home.”
The path ahead was difficult, however Paul's parents were able to adjust the pattern of family communication to reduce the level of conflict at home. Paul had individual counselling to work on managing his friendships (some of which involved bullying) and agreed to participate in KYDS’ Managing Your Mood Group to further develop his skills in managing distress.
Every day, more young people like Paul are reaching out to KYDS for help. We need your support to ensure we can be there for these teens when they need us, and before their mental health issues become more serious.
Thanks to KYDS, Paul's ability to manage difficult feelings is continuing to improve. He has rekindled old friendships and feels a sense of hope for the future - something he has not felt in quite some time.
It takes a village to raise children...
That's why we’re inviting you to join the KYDS Collective and become a regular monthly donor. By giving a little each month, you will be helping to transform young lives in our community, while at the same time providing KYDS with the financial certainty we need to continue to deliver our barrier-free mental health support.
Your invaluable support as a donor enables us to make a difference in the lives of young individuals like Jack, who battled with mental health challenges. Without you, our efforts to help these youth would not be possible.
