Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is the course just for parents who have children that they think are using drugs?
A. Not at all. The course is primarily about preventing problems before they start, but does also have session on how to intervene and how to encourage your child to avoid relapsing once they have decided to stop using drugs.
Q. My children are not yet at secondary school. Is it too early to do the course?
A. A parent/carer of any child will benefit from this course and is welcome to join any of our courses, although it is ideally aimed at parents of children aged 8 years and over.
We at DPYK north devon are linking with secondary schools to particularly encourage those with children about to enter year seven to attend. This is because when a child moves up to secondary school it is a key time in a child's development, and probably the time of most concern to parents. It is also in years seven and eight that children will learn about alcohol and drug use as part of the curriculum.
Q. If DPYK north devon run a course through a school, does that mean the school has a drug and alcohol problem?
A. Absolutely not. What is does mean is that the staff at the school recognise that every child, where ever they live and school will face unhealthy influences that may lead to drug misuse. They are therefore committed to providing the best support they can to their parents to help them address these issues. It is far better to acknowledge that these influences are there and tackle them head on than bury our heads in the sand and ignore the facts.
Q. Will my parenting be judged?
A. Absolutely not. There is no such thing as a perfect parent and that includes those who present DPYK. Indeed many of them have really been through the mill with their kids. This course is not about making anyone feel bad about themselves or mistakes they may have made. It is an opportunity to understand that you are not alone, that we all make mistakes, share good ideas as well as honestly and privately consider how we might be able to do things better for the sake of our kids.
Those who attend the course tell us how much they enjoy the experience.
Q. Will I be expected to talk about personal stuff with other parents?
A. It is a very important principle of the course that parents ONLY share what they feel comfortable sharing. What we do find is that parents gain more from the group discussions we have than any other aspect of the course. We find that many parents do want to share about their experiences, and learn from them.
We ask parents to always respect confidentiality on our courses, but the fact remains that no one should share anything they do not feel comfortable sharing.
For more information or to book your place, please call 01271 336 271 or Contact Us.
