“THE STAIRS” WORK WITH:   Support groups for children and youth aged 7-20 of drug addicted parents -aim to release shame and guilt   Support groups for drug abusing parents -aim to support parents in their parenthood   Separate meetings with children who witnessed domestic violence aged aim to help the children describe and understand their harrowing experiences   Support groups for children and youth aged 7-20 of parent with psychiatric illness - aim to release shame and guilt

Purpose   To meet other children with similar experiences   To talk about their situation, their feelings and thoughts   Achieve knowledge about: -Chemical abuse -Psychiatric illness and symptoms -violence and it´s effects on the family   to help the children find alternativs and possibilities in their own life   to strengthen own identity   to play and have fun together   to obtain tools for life   to develop connections in a positive network

Unspoken rules  Do not trust anybody  Do not talk about the real problem  Do not feel anything

 Intake/Goal setting  Feelings  Defences  Chemical dependency  Bounds and violations  Communication  Families  Specialness  Risks and chioses  Finishing group Topics

Common feelings of children in families with drug abuse  Sorrow  Anger  Shame  guilt

 I did not cause it  I can not cure  I can cope with  All my feelings are okey  I can learn new strategies  I can make good choises  I am special  My needs are important  Inspire to hope and that you can find help IMPORTANT MESSAGES: