In this episode of the Parenting Your Teens Podcast, I teach parents all about teens and vaping. It is important for parents to understand why teens vape so they can develop a strategy to end it. I help parents see how teens use teen mental health struggles as a justification for use. I teach the names of some devices and where to go to find more education. Learn the exact strategies I use in my teen therapy practice that I have used for over 16 years as a teen expert.
Read MoreMotivation is based on what we attach value to. The old way of trying to ensure teens follow through was to slam them with a consequence. Well the new generation of teens are smarter and don’t care about consequences most of the time. Sure they may initially throw a fit and yell and scream but generally they fall into apathy quickly and parents feel hopeless that their approach failed. So here are the 3 ways to ensure your teen is motivated without nagging, arguing or using consequences.
Read MoreAs parents we are tasked to protect our children from mistakes that can have repercussions that last their lifetime. We understand that most poor choices can offer excellent learning opportunities but there are some pitfalls that keep us up at night with thoughts of dread. In my experience, there is no greater point of worry than the thought that your teenage son or daughter is experimenting with drugs.
Read MoreProm night is the end of childhood for your teen, the beginning of adulthood, and the true test of responsibility and behaving. Teens spend almost the entire year planning, shopping, and talking about prom night; they see the few hours as one of the most important night of their college career. However parents see the night as emotional and riddled with fear.
Read MoreA recent client of mine was severely bullied for having an iPhone older than a 5. He asked his mom to change schools. Another client was sent home in tears because he liked theatre more than sports. Furthermore, a young girl was publicly shamed because it was discovered that she was sending naked pictures of herself to boys she liked because she was told they would like her.
Read MoreYou see, when Timmy’s parents first called me for a consultation they where distraught. They had found Timmy’s phone lying on the counter while he was at soccer practice, and they decided to take a look. What they saw shocked them to say the least. In his SnapChat story, they saw pictures of him with huge clouds of smoke coming out of his mouth.
Read MoreNoted psychologist, Erick Erikson, described the period of adolescence in psycho-social terms of ego-identity vs. role confusion. I think all of us can relate to this explanation if we remember what life was like as a teenager. What clothes do I wear? What music do I listen to? How do I stay current with movies and shows so I don’t seem out of place?
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