A New Hope: Stephen Parkinson and the Healing Force at True Colours

By: Bhupinder Kaur

Stephen Parkinson might not wear a Jedi robe, but his work at True Colours Children’s Health Trust is nothing short of magical. He has been helping children and their families for many years, using kindness, a calm manner, and even a bit of music to make things better.

Stephen trained as a mental health nurse in England in 1981, later specialising in Child and Adolescent Mental Health in 1989 and qualifying as a psychotherapist in 1990. At the start of his career, he worked with adults, but that all changed when he got a job at a children’s mental health unit. He found working with children quite scary in the beginning because “kids are unpredictable – some are shy, some do not stop talking, and some want to play with every toy on the shelf!” 

Even though it was challenging, he felt like he wanted to understand children more. Like many people Stephen had some experiences during his childhood that motivated his passion and care for children going through tough times.

He moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1990 and continued his professional development by looking at therapeutic approaches that would benefit the children and families he supported. He trained in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), completed a Master’s in Health Science, and gained a Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy in 2020.

Stephen became part of the True Colours team right as it was established by founder Cynthia Ward. There wasn’t even a name or any funding at that time, but he believed in Cynthia’s vision to build and improve their organisation. Together, they worked hard to build this supportive environment. 

Stephen is not just a therapist; he’s also someone who brings music into therapy. He uses instruments like drums or even apps on his phone to help children express their feelings. Some of the children might be in pain or feel angry and cannot find the right words, so instead, they play the drums or sing to boost their morale.

One of the children Stephen supported with music was a teenage boy with muscular dystrophy. As the boy’s muscles got weaker, he couldn’t play with his drum kit anymore. Rather than giving up, he started using his phone and just two fingers to make music. Stephen joined in playing guitar, and they even recorded music together. After the boy sadly passed away, those recordings became precious memories for his family. 

Stephen regularly works with children who need to be in the hospital and sometimes have to spend time away from their families. He supports families to stay connected by having bedtime video calls, sending drawings, or using countdown calendars to help children understand when their parents will be back. He also shares a lovely book called The Invisible String by Patrice Karst, which shows the children that love keeps them connected, no matter how far apart they are. 

Stephen builds connections with children by tapping into their interests. He often uses music or memorable movie quotes, like “May the Force be with you” to bring a smile to their faces. If a child is a Star Wars fan, Stephen uses that shared enthusiasm to help them feel at ease. Once, he even hummed Darth Vader’s theme as a doctor entered the room, just to get a laugh from the child! 

He says that working in this field can be difficult sometimes, especially when families are going through tough situations, but the best part of his job is when he makes a child smile or feel more confident. 

For anyone who wants to work in this field, Stephen says it’s important to have experience with health care, counseling, and children. But more than anything, you need to have a kind and caring heart. 

Stephen might not fight Darth Vader or Stormtroopers, but every day he helps children feel stronger, braver, and a little more hopeful. And that on its own, is a real kind of hero work. 

Bhupinder Kaur is an international student from India, studying the Graduate Diploma in Communication at Wintec.