Parents
For most of us parents are a fact of life in one form or another, and as you go through uni, they too go through it with you in their various ways. For many, parents are a great source of support - personally, practically and financially!!! However even with the best of intentions they can be difficult and problems in your relationship can occur.
We are finding at the Counselling Service that as students stay at home longer there is a prolonged period of "dependence" that can bring with it family relationship problems. Lifestyle and differing values can bring about conflict. It is common for Uni students to try out different ideas, values and behaviours and this can result in confusion and concern on the parents' part.
eaving home and long distance relationships with family can be hard to manage. Your parents will have hopes and expectations for and of you and these sometimes make it hard to work out just what you want.
Similarly, parental approval is a hard thing to deny and it can affect the decisions you make. Parents' marital or other personal problems can affect you.
Whether you live at home or away, are from the city, a rural area or are and international student, a school leaver or mature age student, it is possible that at some stage issues with your parents will affect you. It is a good idea to talk these problems through.
The Counselling Service can help you.
Parents sometimes contact the Counselling Service and they are welcome to do so. It can sometimes be helpful for a parent to talk through their concerns with a counsellor and by being clear and well informed, they are in a better position to appropriately support you. The Counselling Service is confidential so we would never disclose to another person details of attendance or content of discussions.
Family
Parental and family relationships can sometimes be difficult despite the familial bliss portrayed in such TV shows as "The Brady Bunch" or "Seventh Heaven".
Problems can sometimes become exacerbated by physical separation from parents and siblings living overseas, interstate or in the country. It is common for University students whether local, interstate or international to experience some rough patches in their relationship with a parent, brother or sister.
At the Counselling Service we talk to students about a whole range of issues to do with family and parental relationships. You can talk through any concerns you may have with a Counsellor who will help you to clarify and work towards resolution of problems you are experiencing in a supportive and confidential environment.