Effective Discipline Programme

Northern Frontiers Counselling Cairns offers a four-session educational counselling program for parents and care-providers. Our Senior Counsellor and Parenting Consultant, Melinda Bailey, believes the foundation of effective parenting is Trust and Respect. Melinda takes a practical, protective approach to discipline – one which involves asking questions about techniques used in the home and actively counselling parents and care-providers about the purpose of discipline, whilst discouraging all forms of physical punishment and emotional abuse.

Programme Outline
Intake and Assessment
• Family details including age and developmental stage of each child.
• What is the parent’s understanding of and attitude towards discipline?
• Parenting style.
• What types of discipline are used by the parent?
• Difficulties arising from disciplinary action used by the parent?
• Is the parent experiencing any life stressors and if so, how are they managed?
Defining Discipline:
Discipline can be seen as a process whereby parents and other care-providers impart knowledge and provide behavioural guidance by setting limits and imposing consequences. This assists in providing the foundation for self-control by the child. Discipline is often confused with punishment and control by the parent/care-provider, however, there are critical differences that should be recognised.
Characteristics of Effective Discipline
- Carried out by an adult who has a close bond with the child
- Age and developmentally-appropriate
- Timely – carried out at the time of the act requiring change
- Understood and considered fair by the child
- Enhancing – conducive to self-discipline by the child
Reasonable Rules and Realistic Consequences
• Knowledge of age-appropriate behaviours and developmental needs
• Make age-appropriate statements of achievable behaviours
• Frequent positive reinforcement of desired behaviours
• Make allowances for individuality and temperament
• Mean what you say – enforce consequences
• Be consistent and avoid arguing with the child
• Importance of being a good role model
• Prioritise rules – Safety first (the child’s/parent’s/other people and animals/property)
Types of Discipline
• TIME OUT and TIME IN
• Reasoning – anticipate and prevent undesirable behaviour
• Physical punishment – associated with negative child outcomes – parents to take time out before returning to discipline the child using non-violent means
• Tailored Discipline – Infants and Toddlers – Toddlers to School Age – Adolescents
• Review
* Sessions last for 50 minutes and cost $110 for 1 attendee or $130 for two attendees, per session. 10% discount applies when paying for all 4 sessions at once prior to programme commencement.
Ready for a new direction?
Make contact with our Reception and discuss your unique situation today. Call 1300 90 81 70, text message via mobile 0419 531 269, email reception@northernfrontiers.com.au or use the online chat feature at the bottom right of this webpage.

Location
75 Digger St
Cairns North QLD 4870
Northern Frontiers Pty Ltd does not accept walk-ins, or individuals without prior bookings. Please contact prior to attending office.
Phone
Mobile: 0419 531 269 (text messaging available)
LiveChat: If you have any questions about our services and don't have time to ring or email, feel free to use the LiveChat function (bottom right of this page).
Opening Hours
Mon-Fri: 7.30 am – 5:00 pm, by appointment only. Face -to-face sessions available on Tuesdays and Fridays, phone and videochat (FaceTime, Skype, Zoom etc) available each weekday. Last-minute sessions are usually available for urgent matters.
Please note: Northern Frontiers Mediation & Counselling Cairns provides private and confidential services. To ensure client confidentiality all bookings are strictly by appointment only therefore we do not accept walk-ins or unannounced requests for service, including for new enquiries.