Supporting Our Kids by Dealing with Our Issues as Parents

The Importance of Quality Relationships

Relate NI is passionate about enabling good quality relationships. With our 75 years of experience working with people throughout Northern Ireland, we’ve come to understand that relationships not only give our lives meaning, but also they are vital to our well-being. According to UT Health Austin, they can boost life expectancy, heart health, and overall well-being. Additionally, they aid recovery and prevent illness.

The Impact of Parental Conflict on Children

We know that conflict between parents and families is always going to happen and is normal (we are all human). However, how it is handled can greatly impact the future of our kids. In fact, managing conflict well can significantly affect our children’s futures. Evidence shows that children with parents who manage conflict well—whether together or separated—tend to experience better health, improved emotional well-being, higher qualifications, and a lower chance of risky behaviors. Therefore, supporting kids through parental issues means managing conflicts in a way that benefits them.

Long-Term Effects of Poorly Resolved Conflict

Evidence shows that children of all ages can be affected by destructive or poorly resolved parental conflict. This impact can be seen across babies, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Problems can include mental health issues, dropping out of school sooner, poorer relationships with friends, drug and alcohol misuse, poor future romantic relationship chances, low employability, and a higher chance of engaging in physical violence. Furthermore, the impact of parental conflict can be varied and long-lasting. There is always the risk that relationship behaviors and problems might be repeated. Thus, supporting kids through parental issues involves handling conflicts effectively to minimize these risks.

Healthy Relationships With A Partner | Relate NI

Discover key insights from Relate NI therapist Anandi on maintaining a healthy relationship with your partner. Watch now to learn how open communication can transform your relationship, whether you’re discussing tough issues or everyday topics.

How Relate NI Can Help

Relate NI offers adult relationship counseling for both couples and individuals. In addition, we help manage unhelpful conflicts and develop strategies that benefit children. Our goal is to improve family dynamics and create a healthier environment for kids.

There are a number of ways to access this service including by self-referral, or through a number of our national contract partners. Parents of children under 18 can access services fully funded by the HSCB, through a referral by their GP, Social Worker or other Healthcare professional.

Moreover, we also provide tips, tools, and resources for maintaining relationships.

Sustaining Healthy Relationships Workshops

Thanks to support from the Dormant Accounts Fund, Relate NI is also developing sustaining healthy relationship workshops to provide the skills and tools to manage the rough and tumble of all types of relationships. For further information about getting your group booked in for free, contact:

Kellie O’Dowd, Development Manager

kellieodowd@relateni.org

02890323454

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“How Relate NI helps people”

Our counsellor was excellent and really helped me and my husband to resolve the niggles in our relationshipService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples

My counsellor was lovely, attentive and supportive. She helped me to understand my worth and for that, I will always be gratefulService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Individuals

This service is invaluable. Such lovely people to meet and help you through difficult times.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples

The service was excellent, my counsellor was really good at getting us to open up and helping us to get to the root of our issues. We have definitely improved our communication since attending.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples

I found the Relationship MOT an excellent method of focusing on how we work as a couple and just as importantly, where we need to work. It was professional, insightful and well worth the time. It has reminded us of how much we have to be proud of in our relationship and why it is so important to occasionally review it with experts.Service Attended Relationship MOT

I would definitely recommend using the Relationship MOT service as a bit of a check in with your partner. I thought how the counsellor was able to steer the conversation was very insightful and nuanced. The MOT reminded us about why we are great together but also the importance of communication and respect.” “Our counsellor provided an outside perspective which immediately helped us to agree that we needed to stop and think with more kindness and empathy for each other especially when stressed or pissed off. We both felt that our counsellor’s excellent and gentle facilitation was quite invigorating. So many positives!Service Attended Relationship MOT 2

Very Interesting Content. I like the concept of preparing your relationship before you have problemsService Attended Sustaining Healthy Relationships – Surestart 4

The face to face programme has made me feel connected with others experiencing similar thingsService Attended Sustaining Healthy Relationships – Surestart 3

The workshops made me more confident to balance family life after the baby's arrivalService Attended Sustaining Healthy Relationships – Surestart 2

I now have a better understanding of myself, it is good to know that it is normal to have argumentsService Attended Sustaining Healthy Relationships – Surestart 1

I felt the weekly questionnaire, couples with the counsellor's understanding of my needs help contribute to my own understanding of my mental health and needs throughout.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Individuals

I loved every session. Our counsellor listened to what we had to say and gave us helpful wee homework - would recommend this service to everybodyService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples

Our counsellor was a fantastic support - we now feel strong enough to continue working on our relationship togetherService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples

I had a very good counsellor that helped me through a lot and it has made me come out the other side.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Individuals

Counselling took us from a bad place to a good one and I would return if neededService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Couples

Been a lifeline to help us fall in love again - forever grateful!Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Couples

I would just like to say that when I first came for counselling I felt that I was drowning. I have completed my sessions and I now feel that I can cope a lot better with everything. Thank you for a brilliant service.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Individuals

Thank you Relate NI for a good nights sleep.Service Attended Relate NI Kids Counselling

Really enjoyed Relate NI and I'm actually going to miss counselling. I Found it helpful to find myself again. Very fair and equal within our relationship.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Couples

The counsellor was very pleasant to meet with. They had the necessary skills to speak and listen when appropriate. I liked their humour and good personality.Service Attended Family Counselling

Relate NI has helped me move on as well as understand myself and situation more. My counsellor listened to me, facilitated me and was compassionate!Service Attended Relate NI Teen Counselling

I felt the weekly questionnaire, coupled with counsellor's understanding of my needs helped contribute to my own understanding of my mental health and needs throughoutService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Individuals

We had four funded sessions and cannot express how grateful we are for the help, guidance and knowledge. Our counsellor was incredibly professional, and her experience and obvious passion for helping couples like us was exceptional. She helped us to understand ourselves and each other like we otherwise never would have been able to.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Couples

I have tried counselling many times in the past. This time actually made a difference. I was able to complete online sessions as well as some face to face.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Individuals

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