Triangle Parenting Support specializes in counseling for kids, parents

Triangle Parenting Support is a product of the Wake school board's decision earlier this year to cut positions at Project Enlightenment, which provides support for infants to rising kindergartners.

Among those who lost their jobs was Lynne Johnston, who had worked at Project Enlightenment for 27 years, and Cathy Hedgepeth, who had worked there for 22 years. They joined with Dee Bostick, a long-time and well-known counselor in Wake schools, to form Triangle Parenting Support in June.

With offices in north Raleigh and Chapel Hill, the three, all moms, offer parent and family counseling; small group counseling for children; workshops for parents and teachers; parent support groups; and in home coaching.

A specialty for the group is play therapy. Children are observed while they play with a variety of toys. Bostick tells me that it is particularly helpful for preschoolers to grade schoolers, who might not be able to verbalize their troubles as they wrap their heads around their parents' divorce, a death in the family or other issues.

"The toys are their words," Bostick says. "The play is their language."

The group also offers a broad selection of workshop topics such as "Solving Sibling Squabbles," "Parenting in Public Places," and "Preventing Power Struggles." A workshop called Ready-Set-Go Kindergarten is scheduled for Jan. 11 in north Raleigh.

Bostick, Hedgepeth and Johnston will be with us for the next few weeks on Wednesdays to share tips for  those of you dealing with sibling rivalry, sleep issues and homework problems. So be sure to check back here on Wednesday for more.

If you'd like to learn more about the Jan. 11 workshop, what Triangle Parenting Support offers and if they can help you, check their website for details. And watch the video to learn more about Triangle Parenting Support.