Our counsellor offers more information and education, individually and in a group format, to children who have experienced conflict in their families, they may have been direct or indirect victims. Even when children are the indirect victims of abuse, it can have a negative impact on their lives. Parents often think that because the children aren't present, they don't know, or that "babies" are too young to understand. Hearing their mother called names, seeing or hearing parents fight, things being broken, or their mother being hit is terribly damaging to children's sense of safety and well-being.

The objectives of the CWW program are to let children know:

• It's not your fault
• You are not alone
• You can get help

Weekly meetings provide a safe environment for children to learn about:

• Feelings, what they are and how to express them
• Self-esteem
• Families and how they change (dealing with loss)
• Safety plan: How to get help and protect themselves
• Various types of abuse
• Anger
• Learn about choices
• Personal power
• Resolving conflict

Children cannot change the environment they live in or the people they must have contact with. Enabling them to practice what they learn in counselling and giving them the opportunity to learn about healthy relationships is the parents' responsibility. The CWW counsellor will be pleased to work with parents and further assistance is available through our women's counsellors or Parent Outreach Worker.

Photos by Lee
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