What We Need from the Counselling Session for Our Child?

10 questions for parents to reflect on before seeking counselling

What are the counselling objectives for a parent/parents?

As parents, we want our children to grow into confident, independent and responsible individuals. We invest in their education, activities and overall development. Yet, there may be times when we struggle to understand their needs or find the right way to support them.

A child may be experiencing academic difficulties, emotional changes, relationship challenges or confusion about future choices. Sometimes, there may be no specific problem at all. We may simply want to prepare our child better for the next stage of life.

Before approaching a counsellor, it is worth asking ourselves a simple question: What do we actually expect from the counselling session for our child?

Counselling can serve different purposes. Four broad approaches can help us understand what kind of support we may be looking for:

• Developmental counselling: Supporting a child's growth, self-awareness, potential and important life transitions.

• Facilitative counselling: Helping a child understand and work through existing difficulties, conflicts or adjustment challenges.

• Crisis counselling: Providing timely support when a significant or distressing event requires immediate attention.

• Preventive counselling: Helping children develop skills and resilience to handle challenges before they arise.

These approaches are not mutually exclusive. A child may need a combination of support, depending on their circumstances.

Ten questions to reflect on before counselling

1. Are you looking for support for your child's overall development, or is there a specific concern?

2. Have you noticed changes in your child's behaviour, mood or attitude?

3. Is your child struggling with academic performance, motivation or concentration?

4. Is your child confused about subject choices, higher education or career options?

5. Is your child experiencing difficulties with friends, classmates, teachers or family members?

6. Are disagreements between you and your child becoming frequent or difficult to resolve?

7. Would you like your child to develop confidence, communication, emotional regulation and decision-making skills?

8. Has a recent event caused significant emotional distress or affected your child's ability to function?

9. Does your child recognise the need for support, or is counselling something you believe they need?

10. What would you consider a meaningful outcome from counselling?

There are no right or wrong answers. These questions are intended to help parents reflect on their expectations before the first counselling session.

An invitation to parents

India Career Centre invites parents of students in Grades 6–12 to complete the ICC

Parent Counselling Needs Assessment.

We encourage both parents to complete the questionnaire separately, particularly when they have different observations, concerns or expectations about their child's development. There is no need to discuss the answers beforehand or arrive at a common viewpoint. Different perspectives can provide valuable insights and become a useful starting point for the counselling conversation.

The questionnaire is an initial reflection tool, not a psychological test or a diagnosis. The counsellor will consider the child's perspective and circumstances before identifying appropriate support.

The first question should not be, "What is wrong with my child?" It should be, "What do we need from the counselling session for our child?"