Free support groups for adults.
The Kernos Centre in Sudbury is working in partnership with West Suffolk MIND to offer counselling to young people (aged 11 -19) whose families are going through, or have recently experienced, a divorce or separation. The pilot is being funded by the West Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership, so adults and adolescents using the service will not be charged. The Kernos Centre is providing confidential one to one counselling for young people involved in a family break-up. The support work for the adults is being provided by Healthy Mind.
Coping with Family break-Up in the long summer school holidays can be even more stressful for Young People and their parents.
For families experiencing separation and divorce The West Suffolk Local Strategic Partnership has funded the Kernos Centre to provide one to one counselling support to young people aged between 11 and 19 years.
A report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation stated that at least one in three children will experience parental separation before the age of 16; Research suggests the trauma of parental separation is lessened if children feel included in the process and have someone they trust to talk to. Family break up brings feelings of grief and loss, insecurity and often torn loyalties, with no control over outcomes.
Chris Boatwright , Director of Counselling said ‘Young people may need time and space to work out their feelings and to cope with practical changes in living arrangements, often moving house and school area. We provide this and enable them to have a voice and be heard. They have a confidential space and time to talk about their situation with individual weekly counselling sessions. The sessions are held at the centre allowing them to build a trusting relationship to explore their feelings and opinions.
Some young people have issues that just need a little assistance, whereas others have more serious issues which can have a disruptive impact on their well-being and ability to cope both at home and at school and in the wider community.
If you are a young person affected by family break-up or a parent going through, or having recently experienced family break-up, you can ring the Kernos Centre on 01787 882883 and get support and information. Individual adolescent counselling sessions are free of charge and for one hour weekly held at the Kernos Centre in Sudbury.
Parents affected by divorce and separation can get information on support groups for themselves by ringing Healthy Mind Centre on 01284 748040.