ABSTRACT
Providing counselling and guidance for parents is a key element of meeting the social and emotional needs of all children, but it is particularly important for those children with behavioural difficulties or mental health problems. This is because parents of children with these difficulties are likely to require greater support and guidance than many other parents. There are many ways in which teachers can work with such parents in order to provide the most effective help for their children. This chapter will consider what teachers need to know and do in order to provide effective counselling and guidance to parents. First, the attitudes, knowledge and skills which teachers need in order to provide guidance and counselling to parents are outlined. Then, a model for understanding different aspects of working with parents is presented and various strategies which teachers can use to establish and maintain effective communication with parents are described. This is followed by some suggestions for working with parents in groups and the organisation of parent workshops. The final section of the chapter focuses on working with challenging parents.
