The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Eileen helping parents address teen substance use
PARENTING can be one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs we can do, but which can often bring about feelings of being overwhelmed and uncertainty.
Family support counsellor Eileen Foley is someone well placed to help parents resolve differences
Eileen, who works as a family support counsellor in North Kerry is drawing on her years of experience working with families with alcohol and drug abuse issues as she helps those in need rise to the variety of challenges presented by modern concerns. The general stats are alarming. According to the 2017 EMCDDA report ‘drug use has become more common among the adult general population aged 15-64 years in Ireland over recent years’.
“With that in mind it’s important that parents become more aware of how they can be a positive influence in their children’s life” Eileen said.
“I have found that parents often come to me with their teenager when they find out they are experimenting with alcohol or drugs. What I often find is that the relationship between parent and child has become strained to some extent” Eileen says.
“It’s really sad to see, and the family often end up living in a highly stressed and overwhelming situation.
The teen years bring about enormous changes in our children. “This is a time of pushing boundaries, challenging authority and possibly experimenting with alcohol or drugs” Eileen said, adding:
“It’s important to know that not every child who experiments with alcohol or drugs will develop problems but parents can educate and equip them- selves with knowledge before the teenage years.
“This has inspired me to create an online course for parents of preteens. Why wait until a problem develops?” she said.
This course is all about creating awareness around alcohol and drug use and building a strong parent child relationship before the teenage years.
‘Proactive Parents: Preparing for The Teenage Years’ is delivered online through video presentations.
Further information on ‘Proactive Parents: Preparing for The Teenage Years’ can be found at http:// innerhealingcounselling.com/online-workshops/ parenting preteens /.
Eileen can also be contacted at eileen@innerhealingcounselling.com for anyone with questions about the whole issue of underage substance abuse.