Emoticon Frequently Asked Questions
How do I contact you?
Please email us or call our office at 905-689-8721 ext. 601.
What is Parents Night?
The first week of the course is just for parents and we request that all parents attend. This is a chance for you to meet the facilitator and hear more about what your child will be doing in the next seven weeks. During this evening you will learn how to support your child as they participate in this program and tools that will help you as your child navigates their emotions at home. We have created this program in a way that we hope will positively impact your whole family and Parents Night is a way to help you prepare for the coming weeks. Feel free to ask any questions or raise any concerns that you may have during this time. Please note that we are unable to provide childcare during Parents Night.
If you are unable to attend, please let us know and we can schedule a call with our program facilitator to make sure you have all the information about this program.
I have two children who fall into the same age group, can they both participate in Emoticon at the same time?
We recommend that siblings do not participate in the same Emoticon group. No matter how good their relationship may be, attending different sessions gives each child a separate space to focus on their own individual emotions. It also provides them with an experience in which they can learn new tools at their own speed as they are able to focus more directly on their own thoughts and feelings.
We have also found that other participants benefit when there is an absence of a pre-existing sibling dynamic in the group.
What if my child misses a week of the course?
We highly encourage you to make time for this course as the curriculum is created with your child's benefit in mind. Each week is integral to their understanding and management of emotions. However, we understand that things come up and that missing a week may be unavoidable. If your child will be absent, please let us know as far in advance as possible.
What is the best way to talk to my child about participating in this course?
There can be many factors that influence how to talk to your child about participating in Emoticon, however some general tips might be
- sharing that the program is for everyone in the family
- before your child even attends the program, telling them that Mom and Dad get to go to Parent’s Night
- if your child is questioning why they need to go, explaining that this is a fun way to learn about emotions, that they get to play games and do crafts, and that learning about emotions is something that everyone can benefit from
Again, there can be many ways to talk to your child about this program, and these are just a few suggestions. If you have any questions or are looking for more suggestions, please contact us.
What if I can’t cover the cost of the registration fee?
We are happy to subsidize the cost of the registration fee if you are unable to cover it. Please reach out to our Programs Team to let us know.
Can I stay during the course?
We are happy to provide a separate space at our HOPE Centre for parents or guardians to wait while their child is participating in the program each week. Please let us know prior to each week if you will be staying during the program time.
Limits of Service
Due to ethical considerations (including the protection of child’s best interests, informed decision making and legal/custodial requirements), Eagles Nest requires both parents or both guardians who have a custodial agreement to consent to therapeutic services for their child. If one custodial parent or guardian does not provide written consent to services, we will postpone your child’s enrollment in this therapeutic program until consent is obtained. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Limits of Confidentiality
We understand that parents and caregivers want to stay informed about what their child is learning. Your child will be bringing home weekly challenges and discussion questions related to what they did in the group each week, and they are encouraged to have conversations with members of their household about what they are learning. We want to encourage parents and caregivers to learn and develop skills together with their child.
As with all therapeutic programs and services, we have an obligation to protect the confidentiality of our clients and there are limitations on what we can communicate with others. If you would like to know about your child's progress and involvement, we can share general themes around what is seen during sessions and strategies to work on at home. If there is a safety concern, or a risk of harm, we will disclose this to you; we have an obligation as mandatory reporters to notify the proper authorities. Our goal is to create a safe and inclusive environment for our clients and their parents.