PSYCHOEDUCATION AS A TOOL OF PARENTS SUPPORTING IN THE WORK OF A CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST

Abstract

The article discusses the importance of the psychoeducational approach for creating favourable conditions in the family environment that support the emotional and psychological development of the child. Psychoeducation is becoming an important tool not only for the educational activities of a psychologist, but also for building partnerships between a specialist and parents based on trust and mutual support. This approach helps adults to understand better the needs of the child, to respond adequately to their behavioural manifestations, especially in conditions of stress, conflict or adaptation to new life conditions. It is noted that regardless of the type of parents who visit a psychologist (caring, closed, pretentious, traumatised, etc.), they all have a common goal – to help the child feel better and learn to interact with him or her. With the help of psychoeducation, a psychologist helps parents understand the mechanisms of child development, their emotional needs, and the difficulties they may face. This becomes especially relevant in the context of social challenges, such as war, which increases the level of stress in families and requires specialised psychological support to prevent the development of psychosomatic and emotional problems. The article analyses a number of practical stages in the implementation of psychoeducational work with parents, including: building trust, normalising the need of supporting, explaining the child’s condition, defining the boundaries of confidentiality and diagnosis, as well as providing resources and recommendations for parents. In particular, through psychoeducational meetings, parents receive expanded information about the mechanisms of their child’s behaviour, learn ways to respond to emotional manifestations and better understand the processes that are happening with their children. Psychoeducational activities not only raise parents’ awareness of the child’s developmental characteristics, emotional needs and psychological challenges, but also improve their skills in supporting the child’s well-being and development. This approach helps parents to reduce their own anxiety, increase their psychological resilience, and stimulates the development of a responsible, adequate response to the child’s behavioural and emotional manifestations.