MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST OFFERS A LIFE-CHANGING STRATEGY!

In an effort to reach many parents who are struggling with their troubled teens, I will now devote the opening paragraphs of my website to useful ideas on how to restore harmony in your household.  It's too easy for us to forget what it was like to be a teenager, and new findings in Neuropsychology indicate that there is a whole lot going on in our child's brain.  Advances in technology, social media, and video games are all having a dramatic effect on your teen's brain chemistry and mood.  If you are encountering problems with too much X-Box or Wii time, or too much texting by your teen, or too much DS and other hand-held devices face-time, then you need to read my article on Video Game Addiction.  In this month's parent tip, I want to focus on teen belligerence.  When did it become O.K. for our kids to yell at us, tell us to "shut the F--- up," or other such signals of disrespect?  

If this is happening in your home, then you have a teen with a blossoming case of Conduct Disorder.   You need to get this under control quickly.  Teenage kids love to be in control of their parents.  It's time to turn the tables.  My core strategy is to develop a "Behavioral Contract" that spells out in detail the consequences of disrespectful behavior.  As your teen's behavior worsens, the negative consequences, SPELLED OUT IN EXCRUCIATING DETAIL, escalate to the point of "breaking" the teen's willfulness, and putting you back in control.  I invite you to come in and discuss the dynamics in your home, and begin the difficult and rewarding work of changing your teen's behavior.   Within a few sessions things begin to get better, and in time you will restore tenderness and nurturance to your teenager, setting them up for a successful and fulfilling adult life.  The alternative:  In about seven or eight years from now, a 23 year-old, sleeping on your couch, with ABSOLUTELY no motivation or goals in his or her life.  Your choice.

My specialty is helping parents and their teenage children re-connect and restore harmony to the home environment. Has your teenager become a complete stranger to you? Do you endlessly worry about their future or fight about taking responsibility?  If your child has become unmanageable at home because of a defiant and contrary attitude towards you, I can help.  It's time to re-install your authority as the key executive in the household, with ultimate decision-making.  If you feel absolutely powerless with your out-of-control teen, then my focused solutions for you are going to work.  Learn to establish limits on video-gaming, cell phone over-use, and resulting school problems.  Get the techniques you need to manage your teen's behavior.  Bring you parent-teen issues to session and get practical help.

For individuals and couples, I offer practical advice to weather this tough economy.  If your thinking has become negative, and you're looking at a half-empty glass, it's time to come see me.  I have a solid record of turning negativity into positive thinking and enthusiasm for my clients.  As we all know, how you think will determine how you feel.  I can help re-frame those negative thoughts, and inspire you to approach life with genuine zeal.