Have you been wondering, is my teenager normal? Is s/he depressed? Is s/he using drugs? Am I a good parent? Parents often come to me when their teenager is acting out. Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish normal teenage behavior from signs of depression, anxiety, trauma, or other maladjustment. Some warning signs include: substance use, truancy, failing grades, running away, defiance, moodiness, self-harm, […]
Category Archives: teenagers
Parenting Teens: Pick Your Battles
Parenting Teens: Pick your Battles Having high expectations for your child is great. Expecting perfection is not. Parents: getting on your kid’s case about everything is a waste of your time, and more importantly, going to make your child feel bad (incompetent, ugly, ashamed). How would you feel if your husband rolled his eyes when he saw your new outfit? How […]
Why Does My Teenager Make Such Bad Decisions?
Are you wondering why your teenager makes such bad decisions? Well, you aren’t alone! Teenagers are not known for their good decision making skills. Let’s face it, most of us did some pretty stupid stuff when we were teens, too. There are many things that work against teens when it comes to decision making: Lack of life experience Belief they are invincible […]
How do you engage adolescents in counseling?
Unlike adults, adolescents don’t usually initiate counseling on their own. They are usually brought to counseling because their parents want them to change. So, how do you engage a teenager in the therapeutic process? Fortunately, I find most teens are receptive to the idea of counseling and some are downright grateful for the opportunity. However, your child doesn’t need to […]