Category: Grief

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Navigating Parenting Plans: Why Mediation Could Be Your Best Choice

Parenting is a journey filled with love, challenges, and countless decisions. When separation or divorce enters the picture, creating a stable and nurturing environment for your children becomes even more crucial. One effective way to achieve this is through mediation for your Parenting Plan. Here’s why mediation might be the best choice for you and your family:

1. Focus on the Children’s Best Interests
Mediation prioritizes the well-being of your children. A neutral mediator helps both parents collaborate to create a Parenting Plan that meets the unique needs of your kids, ensuring their emotional and physical well-being remains the top priority.

North Shore Family Mediation for Parenting Plan in your child's best interests.

2. Encourages Cooperative Co-Parenting
Mediation fosters a spirit of cooperation, encouraging both parents to work together rather than against each other. This collaborative approach can set a positive tone for future interactions, making co-parenting smoother and less contentious.

3. Cost-Effective Solution
Legal battles can be expensive and time-consuming. Mediation is often a more cost-effective alternative, saving you both time and money that can be better spent on your children’s needs and future.

4. Confidential and Private
Unlike court proceedings, which are public, mediation sessions are confidential. This privacy allows for open and honest communication, helping both parents to express their concerns and desires without fear of public scrutiny.

5. Flexibility and Control
Mediation offers flexibility that the court system cannot. Parents have the opportunity to craft a Parenting Plan that fits their unique schedules and circumstances, rather than having a judge impose a one-size-fits-all solution.

6. Reduces Stress and Conflict
The adversarial nature of court proceedings can exacerbate stress and conflict. Mediation provides a more peaceful and respectful environment, reducing the emotional toll on both parents and children.

7. Long-Term Benefits
A mutually agreed-upon Parenting Plan is more likely to be adhered to by both parties, reducing the likelihood of future disputes and modifications. This stability is beneficial for everyone involved, especially the children.

Parenting Plans in the best interests of your child.

Getting Started with Mediation
If you’re considering mediation for your Parenting Plan, start by finding a qualified Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner. The Attorney-General’s website lists registered FDRPs.

Remember, the goal is to create a loving, supportive, and stable environment for your children. Mediation can be a powerful tool to help you achieve this, fostering a cooperative spirit and ensuring that your children thrive despite the changes in your family structure.

Take the First Step Today
If you’re ready to explore mediation for your Parenting Plan, reach out to a local mediation service or family law professional. They can guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help you take the first steps toward a harmonious co-parenting relationship.

By choosing mediation, you’re making a proactive decision to prioritize your children’s well-being and create a positive, cooperative environment for their growth and development. It’s a decision that can benefit your entire family for years to come.

Remember:

  • Your children’s happiness and stability are paramount.
  • Cooperation and communication are key.
  • Mediation can save time, money, and emotional stress.

Together, you can build a Parenting Plan that works for everyone, ensuring that your children continue to feel loved, supported, and secure. Embrace the opportunity to work together for their sake, and take the first step toward a brighter, more peaceful future.

#ParentingPlan #Mediation #CoParenting #FamilyMediation #ChildCentred

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Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Silent Threat to Mental Health

Loneliness and social isolation are not the same thing, but they often go hand in hand. Loneliness is the subjective feeling of being alone, unwanted or disconnected from others, while social isolation is the objective lack of social contact or support. Both can have serious consequences for mental health and well-being.

Loneliness and social isolation: A silent threat to mental health.

According to a recent report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, one in four Australians reported feeling lonely at least once a week in 2019, and one in six experienced high or very high levels of psychological distress. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated these issues, as lockdowns, restrictions and physical distancing have limited people’s ability to socialise and maintain meaningful relationships.

Who is Most Likely to Experience Loneliness and Social Isolation?

Loneliness and social isolation can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, culture or background. However, some groups may be more vulnerable than others, such as older adults, people living alone, people with disabilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who are unemployed or underemployed, people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and people who identify as LGBTQIA+.

The impacts of loneliness and social isolation on mental health are well-documented. Research has shown that they can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, suicide, substance abuse, cognitive decline and dementia. They can also affect physical health, by weakening the immune system, increasing inflammation, raising blood pressure and impairing sleep quality.

Ways to Cope with Loneliness and Social Isolation

Fortunately, there are ways to cope with loneliness and social isolation and to protect your mental health. Here are some tips:

  • Seek professional help if you are struggling with your mental health. You can contact your GP, a psychologist, a counsellor or a mental health service for support and advice. You can also call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for crisis support and counselling. Christine Bennett is also able to provide mental health support. Call 0418 226 961
  • Stay connected with your family, friends and community. You can use phone calls, video calls, text messages, emails or social media to keep in touch with your loved ones. You can also join online groups or forums that share your interests or hobbies.
  • Engage in activities that make you happy and give you a sense of purpose. You can pursue your passions, learn new skills, volunteer for a cause, exercise regularly, meditate, read books, listen to music or watch movies.
  • Seek out opportunities to meet new people and expand your social network. You can join a club, a class, a group or an event that aligns with your values and goals. You can also use online platforms or apps that help you find like-minded people in your area.
  • Be kind to yourself and others. You can practice self-care by eating well, sleeping well, relaxing and managing stress. You can also show compassion and empathy to others who may be feeling lonely or isolated by reaching out to them, listening to them and offering help.

Loneliness and social isolation are serious challenges that many people face in today’s society. However, they are not insurmountable. By taking steps to improve your social connectedness and well-being, you can overcome loneliness and isolation and enhance your mental health. Remember that you are not alone and that help is available if you need it.

#loneliness #socialisolation #mentalhealth #selfcare #managestress #eatwell #sleepwell
https://www.psyche-care.com.au

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Change and reflections in Winter

Well, it seems my winter has taken a lot longer than the calendar would indicate for the changes and reflection that have taken place for me since my last blog entry.

Many changes have transpired in my life, in the lives of those close to me as well as the lives of clients. Some of those changes have been life affirming and some have involved significant loss through unexpected death.

All of those changes leave me with a strong conviction that we never know when our number might be up and it matters to make every day count. Some people have the idea that making every day count means being busy and crossing off every entry on an ongoing to-do list. For me, making every day count means tuning in to myself and assessing what the count might mean for that particular day.

Some days might be filled with appointments which means I need to be on the ball and well organized to meet both the client’s needs and my own for adequate rest and nourishment. Other days may be days at home where I could busy myself with chores or admin stuff, pull out weeds in the garden, or head for the beach with the grand-babies.

Gazing at the bright blue yonder.
Gazing into the bright blue yonder.

Sometimes, just doing nothing is what the body and mind needs for making the best of the day. Life can become a bit hectic and overwhelming and when it does, making the most of the day might be just sitting on the couch or out in the sun and dozing. Vitamin D from natural sunlight is one of THE best pick-me-ups that costs nothing and is only dependent on the weather and your capacity to take time out to enjoy!

About the author:
Christine Bennett is a private practitioner committed to a non-judgemental approach of helping couples, individuals and families enjoy more fulfilling, loving relationships with themselves and others. Christine also helps separated couples reach agreements for parenting plans, financial settlements and bullying disputes.

Websites managed by Christine Bennett:
Caring4Couples | Christine Bennett Consulting | Psyche-Care |
North Shore Family Mediation | Stop the Bullying

© Christine Bennett

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Marriage Counselling – Recover from a Cheating Partner

Finding out that your partner has been cheating on you is something nobody wants to discover.

It leads to heartache and grief that takes a long time, if ever to find relief.  It can take years to recover trust. Doing the work of re-establishing trust can seem onerous for the partner who has done the cheating. However it is absolutely necessary if healing is to occur and the couple is to regain emotional and sexual intimacy.

It takes a strong and ongoing commitment by the primary couple to do the work of reconnection. There needs to be a daily commitment of demonstrating caring behaviours and planning fun, light-hearted activities together.

Basically there needs to be a new relationship established with new ground rules that may never have even been explored in the initial stages of relationship. This is necessary now. If one partner has certain expectations of how things are going to be played out while their partner has no idea, then things can go awry.

Most people aren’t psychic enough to figure out what their partner’s needs and wants are without being told. It is common however to hear, “He/she has known me long enough, he/she should know what I want without me having to say anything! Can’t they see the mess!”

Although it only takes one person to stray, cheating is a choice. It is a choice that is usually made when feeling disconnected from a partner without the knowledge or experience to handle things differently.

Feeling safe to communicate how you are feeling to your partner is important. The longer things are left to fester, the more distance is created and the gap gets wider over time.

There may be a reluctance to hurt a partner’s feelings by revealing the truth about frustrations or there may have been just too much conflict for self revelation to be a safe option.

This is where marriage counselling can help. During the counselling process the counsellor facilitates communication between the couple and coaches them how to stay safe even when feeling vulnerable with raw emotions.

Caring4Couples specializes in teaching the Imago Couples Dialogue which is a very subtle, yet powerful communication process for healing the hurt.
Couples Counselling: Christine Bennett

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How to deal with grief after relationship break-up

When someone we love dies, we have social rituals to help with the pain of loss. What do we have though, when a relationship breaks down? Where are the social rituals such as a funeral followed by a wake?

This may sound a bit morbid when thinking of a love relationship. However, morbid is exactly how a lot of people feel when they lose a lover or partner through relationship break-down.

Often a big dark hole is the feeling in the pit of the stomach where joy once resided. So how to cope?

Following is an article about some ways people deal with relationship break-up, found on the Grief Recovery website by Allison James. John W. James and Russell Friedman are the founders of The Grief Recovery Institute® and authors of The Grief Recovery Handbook. Their book is available for FREE DOWNLOAD on the website.

Common Responses to Break-Ups and How They Hurt you

“With every romantic relationship there are:

  • Hopes
  • Dreams
  • Expectations

– A new couple might hope to become more serious or look forward to waking up each morning to a text message from each other.

– A couple who have been together longer might expect to have children, dream of vacations together, or begin to plan for retirement.

– Many women start to plan their dream wedding no matter how long they’ve been dating –whether or not their boyfriends know about it is inconsequential!

Couples also create habits and rituals.  Habits as simple as doing the dishes together at night, speaking on the phone each night at 5:00 pm or golfing on Sundays.

A common dream for an evolving relationship is that it will last forever.

Then one day, for whatever reason, the relationship changes or ends.

Their hopes, dreams, and expectations are crushed.

No one likes to feel bad so they do what most people are taught… pretend they are okay!  In an attempt to protect themselves from future heartbreak many people say things like,

  • “I’m never dating again.” 
  • “I don’t give a darn.”

The problem is, that saying, “I don’t give a darn,” and actually not giving a darn, are two different things!

Have you said similar things?

Another thing people do after a break-up is anything and everything to avoid feeling heartbreak. Have you tried some of these things?

  • Dating someone else.
  • Drinking.
  • Having a girls or boys night out.
  • Eating, especially ice cream.
  • Not eating at all.
  • Watching sad movies or listening to sad songs.
  • Working long hours.
  • Shopping.
  • Working out, excessively.
  • Having a make-over.
  • Sleeping.

Although these activities might make you feel better short term, they don’t allow you to get complete with the relationship that changed or ended.”

Click here to continue reading….

Relationship counselling by Christine Bennett caring4couples.com.au


 

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