Your Question
How can I get my son to phone or go on live chat to your service? My son was bullied in his previous school which he has just left he’s in a new school now and much happier but there are still one or two issues. He won’t go to a counselor but I wrote down your phone number and text number for him to make contact. He needs to speak to someone. What more can I do as a parent.
Answer
Welcome to Ask Robyn
Hi and welcome to Ask Robyn,
Thanks for reaching out with your question. It sounds like your son has had some difficult experiences recently, but it’s great to hear that he’s feeling much happier in his new school.
You’ve mentioned that you have spoken to him about getting support, going to a counsellor or contacting Childline, but that he’s reluctant to do so, is that right?
Recognising your support
It sounds like you are a very supportive parent. You have listened to him, validated his experiences and feelings, and offered support options. That’s really important and something to acknowledge.
Listening and gentle encouragement
The most important thing you can do right now is to continue listening to your son. He may feel that talking and sharing with you gives him the support he needs at this stage. You can find some articles on the Parent Hub section of our website that may help you support him: ispcc.ie/
It’s great that you’ve already offered him support options. You might try making these more accessible for him, such as visiting a counsellor together or logging into the web chat together. New things can often feel daunting to young people, so planning an approach together might make it feel more manageable for him.
Reassuring him about Childline
You can reassure your son that Childline’s listening service is confidential and non-judgemental. This means that his call or chat isn’t recorded or kept, and whoever he speaks to is there simply to listen to him and whatever he wants to talk about. He doesn’t have to discuss his past experiences straight away, he can start by chatting about whatever he feels comfortable with. Also, he can call back as often as he needs.
He can contact Childline by calling 1800 66 66 66 or by visiting the web chat at childline.ie/.
Support for you
If you would like to talk to one of the Team, you can contact our Support Line at 01 522 4300 (Monday to Friday, 9am–1pm) or email us at [email protected].
Thank you
We hope that you have found this helpful. Take care of yourself,
Robyn
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