Counsellor & Well Being Facilitator
Premarital counselling provides a thoughtful opportunity for couples to reflect on the commitments and responsibilities that accompany marriage. It offers a structured setting to discuss expectations, explore values, and consider how two established lives will be integrated over time. Our conversations may also touch on personal histories and formative experiences that shape how each partner approaches conflict, decision-making, and long-term partnership. The aim is not to predict or prevent future challenges, but to support a clearer understanding of one another before entering into marriage.
Parentification refers to a role reversal in which a child takes on emotional or practical responsibilities that exceed what is developmentally appropriate. This is different from age-appropriate chores or contributing within the family. Parentification may involve caring for siblings in a primary way, managing adult responsibilities, or becoming a source of emotional support during parental conflict. When a child’s needs consistently become secondary to the needs of the family, it can shape how responsibility, boundaries, and emotional expression are managed later in life. Many young adults who experienced parentification describe feeling responsible for themselves and others family members from an early age. As adults, they may find it difficult to step out of a caregiving role, experience guilt when setting limits, or feel uneasy in voicing their needs.
*Disclaimer: This list is for educational purposes and does not replace professional diagnosis.
Feeling responsible for other people’s emotions, even when it is not yours to manage
Difficulty saying no without experiencing guilt
Prioritising others’ needs while overlooking your own
Discomfort receiving support or relying on others
Feeling exhausted from always being the dependable one
Avoiding conflict to maintain stability or harmony
Struggling to identify what you want, separate from what others expect
Counselling at Serene Hour provides an opportunity to examine the role you learned to hold within your family. Together, we look at how these patterns operate today, particularly in relation to identity, self-worth, boundaries and emotional balance.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
Parentification is less about a single responsibility and more about a consistent role within the family. If you were regularly expected to manage adult responsibilities, provide emotional support to a parent, or prioritise the family’s stability over your own developmental needs, this may reflect parentification. The focus in counselling is not on applying a label, but on understanding how that role shaped you.
Parentification can take different forms. In some families, a child may take on practical responsibilities beyond their age, such as managing household tasks or caring for siblings. In other situations, the role is primarily emotional, where the child becomes a source of support, reassurance, or mediation for a parent. Both forms involve a shift in responsibility that exceeds what is developmentally appropriate.
Yes. Parentification does not necessarily imply neglect or lack of care. It often arises in response to stress, cultural expectations, illness, or family circumstances. Counselling focuses on understanding how these roles developed and how they may still influence adult relationships, rather than judging intentions.
Some clients find a short number of sessions helpful, while others continue longer. Sessions are reviewed collaboratively based on your needs.
Read Blog : Impact Of Childhood Trauma On Adults?
+61 403 44 77 83
sherenechaz@gmail.com
Session availability varies. You are welcome to get in touch to discuss current options.
Locations:
Sydney (online and in person) Australia-wide (telehealth) | India & UAE (Virtual)
