When dreams become reality – Guyana Chronicle

“As a kid, I watched Walker, Texas Ranger on TV and admired the character, Alexandra (Alex) Cahill. Alex Cahill was a Deputy District Attorney who advocated for the rights of people and children. I didn’t know back then how I was going to do it, but I was sure it was the right job for me. ”That’s the words of Telisha Williams, Legal Officer and Attorney at Law attached to the Child Care and Protection Agency. , (CPA) Broad and Charles Street, Charlestown.
Realizing that a social work background would assist her in her mission to help others, Ms Williams studied social work before pursuing Law. Five years later she applied and started the career she dreamed of as a child. “I’ve always wanted to represent those who never have a voice,” he said.

His first job was not the Child Care and Protection Agency, but he jumped at the chance for an interview when he heard that a vacancy existed at the CPA. “A former colleague was aware of my desire to help others when he told me about the vacancy. Fortunately, I got the job, and four years, 10 months later, I’m still here. The majority of requests I receive are protective interventions, such as child abuse or neglect, or moving a child from their current circumstances to be reunited with a family member. I also work on adoption and offer attendance and guidance on custody and access issues.
“Some parents do not understand their roles and responsibilities towards children and the fact that children have rights that should be given to them. Because they don’t understand, they violate those rights. Their job is to help children realize their rights. For children, parents allow their interpersonal issues to overwhelm them, but it’s not about them; it should be about the best interests of the child, ”he said.

Ms Williams has come across a variety of cases during her time at CPA. However, one that resonates is a family that never embraced. He explained, “The children were not encouraged to show emotions or gestures of affection. It felt like a success story; to see how far they had come. By the end of the case, they were embracing each other really, naturally. Unfortunately, their parents did not partake of the significance of the children’s warmth and mutual respect. ”
Ms Williams concluded, “For the future, I would like to see more parents come into contact with our Parent Training sessions where they will learn the significance and joy of whole parenting.”

Dr Yeaswantie Beekhoo has been working as a psychologist at the CPA for the past four years. “The CPA was not the only place I applied for work,” he said. Still, she was thrilled when she was offered a job. “Most of the cases referred to me are cases of negligence. Negligence is the root of most things. Neglect is why children are sexually abused; neglect is why children run away from home and become offensive; neglect is why we have teenage pregnancies, and the list goes on, ”he noted.
Dr Beekhoo continued, “I mainly do assessments with children; we have a Family Unit here that works with families. When children come to see me, I make them feel relaxed before explaining to them, why they are here and why I will ask the questions I ask. They have the opportunity to express themselves during the session, and I’m learning self-help skills, so they have something to think about when they leave. Ultimately, they fix their situation on their own. I move it around a bit and after they see a different perspective. I might ask, what do you think you should do here? Or where do you think you’re going wrong? The method I use is client-led and the situation in question. ”

As a child, Dr Beekhoo said she was fascinated by the way people think and their emotional response to situations. She was even fascinated by the way she used to think, which caused her to explore what was behind the mental thought. It was this initial interest that led her to study psychology. “As a professional, I have to understand what is going on in my head before I can help others. Sometimes I reflect to get in touch with myself, ”he explained.
“I have seen an improvement in the cases I have worked with, but the children should be commended because they are the ones who actually did the work; when they leave they leave with some information. My job helps people understand why they behave, or think the way they do, without making them feel judged. ”Dr Beekhoo and Ms Williams join the Director and the rest of the CPA staff in wishing all readers a TERMINAL THINGS!

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