Children, Teens, Parenting & Family
What would you like support with?
Choose a specific topic to view practitioners whose experience may be particularly relevant.
Find someone who can support you
There may be more to understand
Some experiences affect more of life than we realise. The right conversation can reveal what may be holding you back, what needs care and what could begin to feel different.
Behaviour can be a clue, not just a problem
But behaviour can also be an attempt to cope with something the young person cannot yet explain — anxiety, peer pressure, bullying, learning difficulty, family conflict or simply feeling overwhelmed.
Parents can then get pulled into more checking, reminding, arguing or rescuing, while the child feels increasingly misunderstood. Sometimes the most useful shift is to ask not only “How do we stop this?” but “What might this be telling us?”
How support may help
Depending on the concern, a practitioner may help with emotional regulation, coping, communication, school stress, peer difficulties, family conflict or co-parenting.
Some learning, developmental or more complex mental health concerns may also need specialist assessment or input beyond counselling. The aim is not to label a child or blame a parent, but to understand what is driving the difficulty and strengthen the relationships and skills around the young person.
Why Clients Trust Headroom
Real experiences from people who used Headroom to start a difficult conversation, find the right practitioner or take meaningful next steps.
I went because I thought I needed a better matric study timetable. Mostly I needed to stop treating every prelim and exam like it was going to decide my entire life.
Our son had become so angry at home. Every tiny request turned into a fight and we were honestly convinced he was just pushing every boundary because he could. It took a while before we understood how stressed he was at school and how much he was holding together all day before falling apart with us. That did not mean there were suddenly no rules. We just stopped treating every meltdown like a character problem. The whole atmosphere at home changed.
Co-parenting was a mess after the divorce because literally every message from my ex felt loaded. I learnt to answer the actual question instead of the argument I thought was hiding inside it. Sounds small. Huge difference.
When the teacher kept saying my daughter was ‘not trying’, I started saying it too. The practitioner helped us slow down and look at where she was actually getting stuck. That changed how we spoke to her before we had even worked out what other assessment she might need.
Parenting support gave me something practical to do instead of spending every evening wondering whether I was getting it wrong.
We had reached the point where dinner was just us nagging two teenagers while they ignored us. Family sessions were uncomfortable at first because the kids had plenty to say about us too 😅. Fair enough. We needed to hear some of it.
My daughter stopped wanting to go to school and all I wanted was to get her back there before she fell behind. I was so focused on attendance that I missed how frightened she had become around a group of girls. Once we understood that, the plan had to change.
The best thing was that my son did not have to become ‘the problem’. My wife and I had a few sessions first, changed how we were responding to him, and things started shifting at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? Our support team is here to help you find the right path forward.
Look for a meaningful change from your child's usual pattern, how long it is lasting and how much it is affecting everyday life. Difficulties that persist, intensify or start interfering with school, sleep, friendships, family life or the child's ability to cope are worth exploring rather than waiting for a crisis.
Either may be appropriate. Sometimes a child or teen needs their own confidential space; sometimes changing the responses, routines or conflict around them has the greatest impact. A practitioner can help you work out where to begin rather than assuming the child themselves is the problem.
Resistance does not necessarily mean support will never help. Teens may worry about being judged, forced to talk or having everything reported back to their parents. Giving them some choice over the practitioner and explaining how the process works can help. Parents can also seek support themselves while the teenager is not ready.
Not usually. Young clients need enough privacy to speak honestly, while parents also need to understand how safety and important concerns will be handled. The practitioner should explain confidentiality, parental involvement and its limits at the outset, taking the child's age, maturity, needs and safety into account.
Clients who are 18 or older should register with their own email address and sign their own informed consent. For children under 12, a parent or legal guardian will ordinarily need to provide consent, with the child involved in an age-appropriate way. From 12 to 17, South African law gives sufficiently mature young people greater capacity to consent to certain healthcare, but the exact consent requirements for counselling can depend on the service, practitioner and parental responsibilities involved. The practitioner should therefore confirm before the first session whether the young person, a parent or guardian, or both need to sign.
It can work well for many older children and teenagers, particularly when they are comfortable online and have a private space to talk. Suitability depends on age, attention, the concern and the kind of work needed. Some children or developmental concerns may be better served by in-person or specialist assessment.
That distinction is not always neat. Bullying, academic pressure, learning difficulties, peer problems or a stressful school environment can affect mood and behaviour, while emotional difficulties can also show up at school. Support can help clarify what is happening and whether school, educational, developmental or medical input is needed as well.
Yes. The focus can be on reducing conflict around the child, improving communication between adults, creating greater consistency and keeping the child out of adult disputes. It does not require the former couple to repair their romantic relationship.
No. Court-related assessments and reports are specialist work and are different from ordinary counselling. What is required also depends on the court and the purpose of the assessment; in family matters, the Family Advocate may be involved and can work with social workers, psychologists and other professionals. Before booking, confirm exactly what the court or your legal representative requires and choose a practitioner who explicitly has the appropriate assessment or forensic scope and is willing to prepare the required report.
Helpful Resources For Your Journey
Discover practical guidance, expert insights, and thoughtful resources designed to help you move forward with confidence.
Mental & Social Well-being
Missing loved ones at your Christmas table? The holiday season, traditionally a time of joy and togetherness, can become a poignant reminder of absence when loved ones are missing from
Family Law
Economic abuse in family law disputes is an often overlooked but deeply damaging form of control. When financial resources are manipulated to maintain power over a spouse or partner, the
Family Law
Domestic and emotional abuse leave deep, often invisible scars. For those who have experienced these forms of abuse, the emotional toll can feel overwhelming, leading to anxiety, depression, and difficulty
Family Law
Child maintenance conflicts can be emotionally and psychologically draining for everyone involved. Disagreements over financial responsibilities not only create tension between parents but can also negatively affect the mental health
Family Law
Divorce is one of the most emotionally challenging experiences a person can go through. The process often leaves us feeling overwhelmed, hurt, and uncertain about the future. But emotional recovery
Family Law
Co-parenting after separation or divorce can be incredibly challenging, especially when conflict arises. It’s not uncommon for disputes over child custody, child maintenance, or parenting decisions to create tension between
Family Law
Domestic violence and psychological trauma are devastating experiences that can leave lasting scars on individuals and families. Whether you’re navigating divorce, child custody conflicts, or mediation in the aftermath of
Family Law
Family mediation is often the most practical and amicable solution for resolving disputes related to divorce, child custody, or financial matters. However, the success of mediation relies heavily on how
Family Law
Child custody battles are some of the most emotionally draining and stressful experiences a family can endure. The pressure of navigating legal proceedings, managing relationships, and prioritizing the well-being of
Family Law
Divorce is one of the most challenging life transitions we can face. It’s not just the legal aspects, such as child custody disputes or financial negotiations, that are difficult—it’s the
Family Law
Navigating family law matters is never easy. Whether we’re dealing with the complexities of divorce, child custody disputes, or the emotional toll of domestic violence and economic abuse, these situations
Children & Teenagers
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common learning barriers, with research suggesting that anywhere between 2 and 16% of school-going learners are struggling with either inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive
Children & Teenagers, Depression, Anxiety & Loneliness, Mental Illness
Children of Mothers with Depression More Likely to Develop Depression Themselves Experts say more programs are needed to help mothers with prenatal and postnatal depression. Researchers say children of mothers
Personalized Guidance
Save time and avoid unnecessary trial and error.
We can help you narrow the options around your needs, preferences, budget and availability. So you can make a more informed first choice and get started with confidence.