Children's well-being and development are significantly impacted by the psychological and social challenges they face, including mental health issues like anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral problems. Psychosocial counseling tailored for children plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges, fostering self-awareness, self-esteem, and essential life skills. Positive parenting is essential for establishing healthy relationships and improving outcomes for both parents and children. Psychosocial counseling and positive parenting training equip counselors with the necessary skills to provide age-appropriate support, while also empowering parents to strengthen their relationship with their children. In communities where children often face violence and engage in risky activities, psychosocial counseling is recommended for parents, children, young people, and staff. This counseling addresses topics such as positive discipline, parental care, emotional management, and life skills-based education, providing children with tools to navigate challenges and make informed decisions.
To ensure sustainable psychosocial support, the three days long Training of Trainers (ToT) is provided to selected LRP staff, adolescents, parents, CS staff and Happy Home staff to build internal capacity in psychosocial support. This internal capacity enables them to guide LRPs and provide support in other areas and during times of need, establishing a sustainable system for addressing psychosocial challenges.
The training is facilitated by three experienced psycho-social consultants with extensive teaching experience in multiple universities and ongoing involvement in training programs.
Samiul (18), one of the participants, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, stating, "The training provided us with valuable insights that benefit both adults and children. The session on Depression, Stress, and Suicide particularly resonated with me, as many of our peers experience depression, sometimes leading to thoughts of self-harm. We identified the underlying causes and devised a six-month action plan. I will share what I've learned with children and parents in our community to promote a healthy life and environment for every child."
" Anisa (35) expressed her transformative experience with the training, stating, "I was unfamiliar with the term 'positive parenting' until now. This training completely changed my perspective on effective parenting. I am committed to sharing this knowledge with other parents in our community. Personally, I will implement these techniques with my younger daughter in sixth grade. I will prioritize spending quality time with her and strive to be her closest confidante, ensuring her emotional development. I am grateful to ActionAid for granting me the opportunity to participate in the Psychosocial Counseling and Positive Parenting ToT."
