The information in this post is based on my clinical interviews with teenagers that suffer from marijuana dependency. “I had my first hit of marijuana was in middle school, in a park near my house, hanging out, basically doing nothing. My friend took out a marijuana joint that his brother gave him for his thirteenth […]
I’ve provided psychotherapy to teenagers for 25 years… I’ve worked with them individually and in groups, in public and private schools, community centers, and in private practice. I’ve always found teenagers to remarkably receptive to therapy, especially group therapy. (See “Why Group Therapy is Best for Teenagers”) So why do so many parents report that […]
Do you have a defiant child or teenager who seems to challenge everything you say? In When Kids Call the Shots, I included an extensive guide for parents on how to handle children and teenagers with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). I focus on viewing defiance as a form of energy. This means that, just like […]
Parents beware, your kid could end up in jail. It’s a situation that happens daily throughout the country. Teens meet after school in local parks, homes or at parties to get high together. Thanks to advances in technology, such as cell phones, the Internet and social media, obtaining illegal substances has never been easier. In […]
Figuring out whether or not your teenager is using drugs can be a challenge. I sat down with Holly Holloway from MedMark Treatment Centers to discuss what concerned parents can do. Holly works to help spread awareness and end the stigma of addiction. Here’s what she had to say: Young adults deal with many physical […]
Prescription med overdoses now surpass cocaine, heroin, and meth combined. For nearly 25 years I have worked with teenagers in therapy groups and asked them to identify any mood altering substances that they or their friends have tried. Year after year, the top two answers were always the same: marijuana and alcohol. Recently, I asked […]
…and the one factor tied to virginity loss two years earlier than average. When I lead parenting workshops, I can feel the anxiety in the room spike when the issue of teen sex is raised. Mothers and fathers often get anxious when they see their teenagers—specifically their darling sons or daughters—morph into sexual beings. One […]
Rules for a healthy argument: how to fight for — not against — your teenager. Dear Teenage Son/Daughter, It’s difficult for us to communicate these days. We stumble into an argument, get angry or frustrated. We say things we regret. We bruise each other with our words. Being a parent of a teenager is the […]
