Family-Centered

We prioritise the needs, values, and involvement of the entire family in decision-making and care, ensuring that interventions support not just the child but also their family systems.

Mahesh, 6, adores dinosaurs. While working on his ‘This is Me’ document recently, his candid response in the ‘Family’ section was his dislike of his mother’s shouting. At first this caused some embarrassment to his parents but we assured them that Mahesh’s honesty was a sign that they’d created a psychologically safe environment in which their child felt confident about expressing his true feelings.

Since then, his mother has actively worked on stress management, and finding balance through Zumba sessions that help her stay energised, calm, and more patient with Mahesh. This goes to show how tools like This is Me amplify children’s authentic voices and encourage families to find strategies that support their child and enhance family functioning.

By fostering open communication in a structured manner, together with professional support, the This is Me framework empowers families to create nurturing and responsive environments for their children’s growth.

Strengths-Based

We focus on identifying, building upon, and leveraging the existing skills, abilities, and resources of each child and their family to promote positive outcomes and growth.

At Sethu, we’re all about listening to those we serve. Once, in conversation with RR, whose son was diagnosed with autism in 2022, we understood that she’d attended our Agle Kadam sessions upon the recommendation of one of our clinical staff, so that she could get clarity about her next steps.

Learning that your child has a developmental disability is a big deal for a parent, and reactions can range from disbelief to grief, rage or relief about finally having some direction. What she found most useful, RR said, was the emphasis we place on parental self-care. It was a difficult time for her, compounded by the recent loss of a family member. Our facilitator’s discussion on the importance of self-care really hit the spot, prompting her to become more conscious of her own needs and health. RR has since begun making time for herself and her spiritual growth through activities like walking and attending church. Where she’d found her child’s crying over being separated from her very overwhelming before, she learnt she could transform it into a game of hide and seek – a dash of fun for everyone. She attributes the Agle Kadam session with being eye-opening in many ways