The Spark Blog
Category: Families
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Christmas, Money and Debt
Nearly half of all Scots surveyed in a recent YouGov poll are already in debt before they spend on Christmas. Nearly 20% said they were struggling to cope and feeling stressed by personal debt on credit cards and loans. Christmas debt and relationship breakdown Debt is a major cause of stress and relationship problems for…
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![Teens, Relationships and Social Media]()
Teens, Relationships and Social Media
Before the advent of social media, parents had an easier time keeping track of the teenage celebrity crush. Celebrity crushes used to be someone from music, TV, sport or film. By virtue of their prominence in mainstream media, parents had a better chance of monitoring who their son or daughter adored. Plus those stars always…
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![Social Media and the Celebrity Crush]()
Social Media and the Celebrity Crush
Social media has made the ‘celebrity crush’ more complicated for teens and their parents. In the first of two special blogs we look at how social media has changed the nature of the celebrity crush and how parents can help protect their children. A childhood rite of passage A celebrity crush is something of a…
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![Why I Became a Counsellor]()
Why I Became a Counsellor
The Spark counsellor Josie tells us why she became a relationship counsellor in this week’s blog. I had spent most of my life living in Australia before moving to Scotland with my family. While I waited for my work permit I thought volunteering on a helpline would be a worthwhile thing to do. As part…
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![Help! They are Becoming a Teenager!]()
Help! They are Becoming a Teenager!
Perhaps the only thing harder than being a teenager is being a parent to one. The highs of being a parent can be joyful: watching them develop, become their own person and start to achieve their own life goals. But on the flip side the lows can be intensely challenging: arguments, rebellion, bad behaviour and…
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![Filling the Youth Mental Health Gap]()
Filling the Youth Mental Health Gap
Despite increased investment the NHS is struggling to cope with the demand for youth mental health support. Recent data indicates half of Scotland’s 14 health boards missed waiting time targets for young people with mental health issues. This comes following the addition of a further £150m in funding for mental health services in Scotland. The…
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![Relationship Tips for Stepfamilies]()
Relationship Tips for Stepfamilies
Building a harmonious home where everyone feels loved, supported, and understood can be a complex undertaking, but with the right tools and guidance, it is indeed possible. On this page, we offer some practical suggestions and insightful advice to help you foster healthy relationships, enhance communication, and create a positive environment for your stepfamily. Whether…
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![Tips for Parenting Teenagers]()
Tips for Parenting Teenagers
Watching your child grow into a young adult is a massively rewarding experience. It is also a very challenging one and at times it can feel overwhelming. Learning how to build a positive relationship with your teenager represents an important step toward meeting that challenge. By actively developing a positive relationship with your teenager you…
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