Testimonials from Group Clients

“Our whole family benefited from J’s participation in the Friends Program. As we used the ideas with J, we found they were especially relevant for her older sister and we continue to use them often – especially the calming down techniques, and “red and green” thoughts. Almost every night at the dinner table we ask each other about ‘the best parts of the day’. All our girls enjoy this and sometimes we extend it to discussing how we could have handled things better. For me as a parent, I valued the program because it affirmed things we were trying to do but also gave them more structure and purpose. For example, we were trying to help the girls to think positively, the Friends’ red thoughts and green thoughts’ were similar but easier for the girls to understand. As a secondary HPE teacher, I also found it interesting and helpful in seeing how at an early education level, personal development can be taught at school and saw the importance of a team effort with the parents to make the most of the learning experience.”
Jennifer and Jemma

“My son participated in the FRIENDS program through his preschool. He thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the program. Each week he was provided with fun, age-appropriate strategies to assist him in becoming more emotionally resilient. It was amazing to see his attitudes changing as the program progressed. Often, they were ideas I had attempted to implement at home, but the FRIENDS program offered a practical approach which was apparently very easy for my son to relate to and subsequently implement. I can highly recommend the FRIENDS program to other children and parents.”
Tony and Pauline

“I would like to say how great the FRIENDS program was and how beneficial it was to my son. We all enjoyed the program and doing the activities. I spoke with many parents and they too felt it was well worth while”
Belinda

“I was impressed to see how quickly my daughter was able to grasp the strategies she had learnt in the sessions and apply them in everyday situations – often without my prompting. Through the use of child-friendly language (e.g. talking about red thoughts and green thoughts) and fun play-based sessions, my four-year-old daughter was able to grasp quite abstract concepts relating to thoughts and feelings. One of the longest lasting strategies my daughter continued to use after the program had concluded was her desire to share (talk about) our happy experiences for the day before going to sleep each night. She really enjoyed that special time each night and so did I!
Parent and OT specialist in the field of child development

“The FRIENDS program has been very beneficial and has already made a wonderful difference! I would love to see this program run in all schools, as all children (and teachers too!) would benefit. The program has taught strategies that I know will be life long – Thank you!”
Parent