“Parenting is on of the hardest and yet most rewarding experiences we can undertake in life. The depth of the love I have felt for my children exceeds every other things i have thought important, and yet, sometimes its been so hard to know how to be the best dad I can be.”
Parent Mentoring
Parent Mentoring
- Supporting new, experienced and separated parents on their journey
- Utilising contemporary parenting practices and research
- Connect Us program providing parents with feedback from their children
- Specialised support services for Dads
Its an old cliche, parenting really is the best and hardest thing you will do. I know on my journey with my children I have often needed a lot of support, extra skills or just someone to talk to. Its because I have really wanted to be the best dad I can be and have understood that growing big healthy brains for kids is incredibly important in their whole of life journey around emotional wellness, mental health, resilience, relationship trust and coping behaviours. Sometimes, no matter what age our children, or our own circumstances, we all need some parental support.
My parental mentoring program offers a safe space for parents to reflect on their parenting, master new skills and reshape old patterns that they are feeling impacts their children negatively. Relying on key strategies from contemporary evidence based parenting programs like Tuning into Kids/Teens, Circle of Security, Parenting with Connection and STEP programs I have been able to mentor parents across a range of parental issues and developmental ages with their children over the past decade.
Generally, Parent Mentoring services are held over several sessions. They can be and are often weaved within existing individual and couples sessions as parents will often want to work on their own personal or relationship growth concurrently to their parenting issues.
| Session Time | Cost (per session) | Attendance | Booking |
| 1 to 1.5 hrs | $120 – $170 | Face to Face or Skype | Online or Phone |
Attach Care: Child and Adolescent Consultations
An important service nestled under Parent Mentoring includes my child and adolescent program – Attach Care. Attach Care provides an opportunity for parents to seek feedback around their family circumstances through the experience of their children. Research has shown that this kind of service provides incredibly positive experiences for children around emotional safety, resilience and relationship care
The program works by children attending a one off session (usually individually but sometimes together depending on the family) after permission is given by both parents. During the session the child/ren will be invited to provide feedback on their family situation and anything else specific to the Attach Care consultation. In turn, I will then meet with parents to offer their child’s feedback, in turn supporting parents to build stronger relationships with their children, improve safe attachment systems, or develop more connectful parenting skills.
Generally, Attach Care program includes a 30min consultation (phone, Skype or in person) with each parent followed by an individual session with each child. There is then a follow up session with each parent (again usually around 30min) where the children feedback is given. Follow up sessions for parents and/or children are discussed at the time off the parent feedback
NB: There are a number of important processes and procedure guiding the Attach Care program that will always be forefront in protecting the right and wellbeing of children. Attach Care consultations will only only occur after suitability is assessed and a signed agreement made with both parents.
| Session Time | Cost (per session) | Attendance | Booking |
| 2 hrs | $200 (min) | Face to Face or Skype | Phone |
What clients say
S.R. Testimonial
“Sean, I really can’t thank you enough for the space you hold for me. I feel safe, I feel vulnerable, I feel challenged, I feel hopeful and most of all, I feel ready. You are a very special human being and I’m grateful for being guided towards you”. S.R
M.S. Testimonial
“I can highly recommend Sean, from my very first session I have felt met, held and supported. Every step of the way Sean has been with me with his kind presence and warm contact. He has challenged me at the right times and his compassionate curiosity have guided me deeper into a profound understanding of myself. I’m always amazed at his ability to work at my pace and where I’m at and I always walk out of my sessions feeling empowered, with a greater sense of capacity to operate in the world. Many thanks Sean” M.S.
B.K. Testimonial
“Working with Sean has changed my life & my relationship. Sean is a highly skilled & intuitive therapist. His sensitivity creates a safe space, offering the opportunity for deep healing & transformation” B.K.
T.D. Testimonial
“I can’t recommend Sean enough, he’s compassionate & patient. If you’re committed to turning up & doing the work, then Sean’s your man” T.D.
KLD. Testimonial
“My sessions with Sean have offered me a sense of being deeply met in a safe environment. My capacity to experiment with new behaviours and choices has broadened, as has my ability to discover and action tools of support unique to me and my needs” KLD.
S.M 2 testimonial
“Sean is an exceptional supervisor and his generosity, experience and experiential approach has supported me greatly to complete my counselling training and step into becoming a beginner therapist. Feels like a couldn’t have done it without you – so grateful.” S.M
A.C. Testimonial
“After over 22years together, children and an affair, my partner and I had become disconnected from each other. Separation ensued and we began navigating the world apart. However, along the way, we both recognised that we were prepared to work hard to see if we could recover from the traumatic affair, evolve both individually and as a couple and, rediscover desire for each other. We were fortunate enough to be introduced to Sean and worked with him regularly for over a year. In the early days, we would see him fortnightly. There were some difficult conversations to be had. Raw and reflective. In these sessions, Sean ensured that each person was respected, and allowed the time and space to feel supported in what they had to say. Sean has an incredible capacity to observe body language, cues and conversation. When one person is speaking, his gentle manner assures the other partner that their thoughts will be heard and he balances the flow of the session equally. He has a great memory for returning to poignant points that could otherwise be lost. As time went on, we gained powerful knowledge about ourselves, our fears and insecurities, and our strengths and how we loved each other. Armed with this knowledge and tools to express ourselves, over time, we were able to manage conversations at home and moved to less frequent sessions. The use of practical tools in Sean’s work also provided a concrete base for which thoughts could be expressed. For me, this was far more effective in helping me to understand my thoughts than just trying to explain them. Sean’s nature, knowledge and faith guided us through an extremely difficult time in life. The cost, time away from work, tears and hard conversations were well worth it. A couple of years later, we have reunited. We’re stronger as individuals. We know how to support each other when we’re down or feeling lost. We’re brave to confront difficult conversations together. We’ve stopped making presumptions about what the other person thinks. We’ve found new ways to spend time together. The result .. our intimacy and desire for each other has returned, we’ve reconnected. Thank you Sean.” A.C.
G.H Testimonial
“Outstanding. Sean’s training included excellent info and management of delivery. The live demonstrations were a generous way of teaching and exemplifying skills and application of theory” G.H
T.W. Testimonial
“I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Sean Tonnet for the wonderful counselling he has given me over the past 2 years. I initially came to see Sean with my partner for couples counselling, then I returned to him when I was single for general life counselling, then I returned to him again when my mother passed away for grief counselling. In all these different contexts, Sean provided me with the most incredible support. His gentle presence, deep care, powerful empathy, grounded wisdom and practical strategies have helped me over and over again. I can’t recommend him highly enough as a counsellor! I feel lIke I could turn to him in any situation and I would get the exact support I need.” T.W.
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