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High school leavers and workplace relationships
Starting work straight out of school is an exciting but nerve-wracking next step for many young people. On the one hand, earning your first pay packet and escaping school is a big attraction. On the other hand, it can be hard to imagine how you will fit in and build workplace relationships with people often…
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University guide: feeling isolated
Moving to a new area and starting at university is a hugely exciting step for young people. Finding a new social circle, sharing halls or living with new flatmates creates wonderful opportunities to enjoy new experiences and make lasting friendships. Many students relish it but it can be a lot to process and for some…
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“I have failed as a parent” – exploring common myths about youth counselling
The mental health of children and young people has become a hot topic in recent years. Society is slowly waking up to the importance of emotional and mental wellbeing services like counselling. Sadly, many misconceptions and myths about youth counselling still remain. In this week’s blog, The Spark counsellor Laura Campbell explores the common misconceptions…
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Tips for first years transitioning to university
In February, UCAS reported that a record-breaking number of young people started university last September and this year is likely to be no different. Scotland is home to a total of 19 universities, welcoming students from around the world. Every university offers its students the chance to meet new friends, grow as a person, learn…
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How to Help a Child Deal with Parental Separation and Divorce
As a counselling and support charity, The Spark often works with couples trying to avoid parental separation. Sometimes, however, it is best for everyone involved that a relationship comes to an end. From time to time our counsellors are involved in helping couples separate amicably by providing emotional support, alongside mediation and/or legal proceedings. Frequently…
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Shielding Children from Struggles Harms Their Resilience
When humans become parents they develop many natural instincts. One of which is shielding children from struggles. In the earliest weeks and months of life, it is a purely physical function to protect from hunger, a lack of companionship and the cold. As the child grows this instinct to protect evolves. Over time it comes…
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Child behaviour management: A Guide for Parents
Behaviour management is part and parcel of being a parent or carer. All children will at some point display challenging behaviour and in the heat of the moment knowing what to do can be hard. Putting the right behaviour management techniques into practice can be even harder. In this short introduction to child behaviour management…
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Managing challenging behaviour in children
Managing challenging behaviour is one of the biggest tests any parent will face. From toddler tantrums to pre-teen arguments over clothes and mobile phones, no parent or carer ever gets a free pass. Maintaining safe boundaries for your child while instilling confidence and independence can often feel like an impossible balancing act. This in itself…
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How to Detox the Negative Body Image Triggers in Your Life
Negative body image triggers are seemingly inescapable. Beautiful bodies that are sculpted to perfection invade our smartphones, TV screens, magazines and more every hour of every day. This can leave many of us feeling oversized, inadequate and unhappy in our own skin. There are, however, some simple changes we can make to fight back and…
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