While stress has become a ubiquitous experience for all of us, there are some unique developmental and neurobiological challenges for teens that heighten the impact of stress. Change is stressful. It has to be for humans to pay close enough attention to […]
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Tasks, Goals, Bond. The 3 legs of the stool. Let’s review: we always start the process of bringing about change by identifying what the teen is looking for. What do they want to achieve? Some examples of GOALS for different […]
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This is Suicide Prevention Week, a fitting time to reinforce the power of relationships as a literal life saving force. We all need connection with others; to feel valued, accepted as we are, with warmth and compassion. Teens especially, rely on connections, […]
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The book What Works With Teens speaks to the importance of creating a strong bond with the young people we teach, treat, and coach. Research has shown that a strong relationship and good fit between teenagers and the adults who […]
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Seems appropriate to address Independence in July. The celebration of a country free to manage itself, woohoo!! Growth and self-sufficiency however, is not easily earned. It requires persistence, sacrifice, and the ability to postpone instant gratification in pursuit of a larger goal and […]
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Human beings are a unique species. For better or worse we have come to dominate the planet. One of the reasons for this is our unique to imitate each other. Consider the benefits, imitating allows us to learn quickly from […]
Continue ReadingIt seems that sometimes we (parents and professionals alike) can be so focused on teens achieving academically to get into college that we overlook the opportunities for teens to learn and grow in a work environment. Whether teens are self motivated […]
Continue ReadingYou may be familiar with the Maslow’s hierarchy of basic needs. First is basic survival — food, air, sleep, etc. Second is safety; we all strive to be safe and sound in a world that we often experience as relatively […]
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March is Self-Harm Awareness Month. There have been reports of significant increases in self harming behaviors in teens ages 12-17 and for young adults, as a general trend, from 2006 to 2019. As has been reported widely (and in the […]
Continue ReadingSubstance abuse, risky behavior, lying, cheating, skipping school, promiscuous sex, self-injury; the list goes on and on. A challenging task for those of us who work with teens is addressing behaviors that are unhealthy and by all accounts need to […]
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