Coaching for Parents of Teens

As a Therapist, I consider myself a broad generalist, meaning that I see many different types of people, usually from the age of twelve and up. I try very hard to help them to identify their problem(s), to think of a plan to reduce their discomfort, and to support them while they follow through with that plan. It is interesting to me to work with human beings on human problems.

One thing that I have noticed in my many years as a practitioner is the tendency of parents to imagine that something is wrong with a child who has entered the teen years.

Teenagers have very difficult developmental tasks to accomplish and therefore very special issues. They can begin to behave differently as early as 12, leaving parent(s) confused and even angry with them. Some parents will immediately call a Therapist, and while this is not a “bad” idea, it may be premature. It could give the children - and they are still children no matter what they tell you - the idea that they are a “problem” or, worse, that their parents cannot help them or do not want to deal with them.

I have a wonderful Client that I have seen since she was 12. I met her in a hospital where she was visiting her brother. She asked to see me, and we have worked through many things together. Once, her mother called to tell me that there was an issue with a boyfriend. She said, “Can we just say that you will handle this and send me a bill?” Today, my Client is a commissioned officer in the military, and she is not as close to her parents as she could be if they had not imagined that teens are simply too difficult to deal with.

Before you send your child to me, please make an appointment for yourself so we can discuss whether or not this is necessary. Tell me what the issues are and what you have already tried. I will go over the essentials with you:

How to show them love and appropriate respect even as you make rules and set boundaries

How to have discussions about sensitive issues like drugs and sex

How to help them trust you

The importance and influence of peer groups and how to know who your child is seeing

How to help them acquire discipline and confidence

and other things besides.

I will coach you so that you can coach them. When you learn to coach your own teenage child, you will see that they are unique and highly entertaining individuals.

Please - come and see me!