With the right tools and knowledge, supportive adults can help children to learn appropriate ways to engage with others; to express their emotions appropriately, and to consider the impact of their actions and words.

This seminar covers:

• The relationship between children’s behaviour and their emotions.

• Adult expectations, interactions, and responses to behaviours of concern.

• Communication strategies to enhance children’s listening and cooperation while building secure, meaningful relationships.

Behind every behaviour is an emotion.

With an understanding of ‘Emotion Coaching’ techniques, participants will develop practical strategies to successfully support children who present with “big emotions” and behaviours of concern, as we discuss:

• The emotional source of concerning behaviours.

• The development of co-regulation, the precursor to self-regulation.

• Techniques to help children respond to emotions in socially appropriate ways.

• Support for the child’s internal ability to cope with challenges and difficulties.

The increasing number of children struggling with anxiety, fears and worry is concerning, not only to families, but anyone involved in children’s lives.

Anxiety can impact a child’s wellbeing, health, and their potential to learn. 

This seminar provides participants with the knowledge and practical strategies to successfully support children presenting with anxiety, by examining: 

• The basis of anxiety, fear, and stress in children.

• Tools to assist children to build capacity to reduce their arousal, and eventually self-manage their anxious thoughts, feelings, and reactions.

• Adult responses and the associated impact adult support can have on the child’s emotional state and resilience.

Does each child have a sense of belonging and feel safe and secure attending your ministry?

Are they capable and confident in their relationship with leaders and volunteers?

This seminar is an opportunity for adults to reflect on their regular interactions with children while considering:

• The elements of a respectful, trusting relationship.

• Ways to better understand children’s thoughts and feelings.

• Intentional support for children’s wellbeing and self esteem.

• Strategies to build and maintain secure relationships with each child.

‘Resilience’ supports a person to adapt and cope with life’s difficulties in a positive way; it is the ability to ‘bounce back’ and recover from life’s setbacks.

Discussing how adults can encourage resilience in children, this workshop examines:

• The factors and processes which contribute to the development of resilience in children.

• Ways to encourage confidence and competence to cope with worries and stresses.

• Tools to strengthen resilience.

• Balancing resilience with the need to express emotions.

This introductory workshop is designed for those working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD (or other neurodevelopmental disorders) and their families, to gain a basic understanding of:

• What is Neurodivergence?

• Early signs and diagnosis

• Myths and misconceptions

• Supporting the child’s family

Ensuring security in relationships.

Michelle is an experienced, qualified facilitator of the Circle of Security program, an adult: child relationship program, grounded in 60 years of attachment research.

Understanding children through a ‘lens’ of secure attachment, deepens our relationship with them.

This seminar examines:

• The 10 essential needs for a child to feel safe and secure in relationships.

• The strong link between behaviours of concern and unmet attachment/ relationship needs.

• New ways to understand and support children’s behaviours of concern.

Discussing a child’s behaviours with their family can be challenging and elicit strong emotions.

This workshop provides participants with strategies, and confidence to address such sensitive topics, by examining:

• Contemporary parenting practices, and associated challenges for families today.

• How our own opinions impact our communications.

• Strategies to effectively connect and communicate with families about our concerns.

• Parenting support, referrals and resources.

All parents want to do what is best for their child, but the myriads of opinions within the community, and on social media, has resulted in many parents feeling overwhelmed and confused.

The Parenting Today seminar supports ministry teams, who engage with and support families, to enhance their understanding of contemporary parenting, and covers:

• What does parenting today look like?

• Where do these ideas come from, and which ones are evidence based?

• What parenting struggles and challenges do families face?

• How can we better support families in our ministry?

Designed for those in a ministry role incidentally, or regularly, supporting parenting.

Leaders and volunteers working with children and families in a church setting often find themselves in casual conversations with parents and grandparents, regarding children’s behaviour, and development. These conversations can be challenging, and emotive, leaving the ministry team worker feeling ill-equipped to continue the support.

The Supporting Families with Parenting course is an opportunity for your team to draw from Michelle Cuthbertson’s extensive expertise as an experienced family relationship and parenting coach.

With this increased knowledge and strategies, participants can confidently share current, evidence-based information with families about children’s behaviour, development, and the parent : child relationship.

Facilitated over one day or divided into shorter sessions, we examine:

• Parenting Today – what does it look like? And what is best?

• The struggles and challenges for families.

• What do we need to know to support families in their role of parenting?

• Our own thoughts and ideas about ‘good parenting’, and how that impacts on our advice to families.

• Successful tools to connect and communicate with families, particularly when addressing children's behaviours of concern.

• Current parenting practices; research; and opportunity es to rethink the relevance of our own opinions and advice.

• Parenting courses and resources: what is currently available and recommended?