Parenting Sons: 5 Things You Need To Know About Peer Pressure
Peer Pressure and Healthy Male Mentor As your adolescent boy grows and matures it is increasingly important that he has a strong relationship with dad; if dad is healthy and safe. If that is not the case, a healthy male mentor (grandpa, uncle, stepdad, coach). You hear me say this often, I have dads tell me they’re doing…
Read MoreRaising Sons? Does He Struggle With Anxiety?
As a Licensed Professional Counselor(LPC), I see a fair number of clients with anxiety. Maybe they lost a job or their marriage is failing. Recently I am seeing adolescent boys on a regular basis struggling with anxiety. What Is Anxiety? In general, anxiety is a term used for nervousness, fear, apprehension and worry. Chronic anxiety can lead to, or…
Read MoreParenting Tip: Conflict Resolution Examples
Conflict Resolution: Conversation Examples I chose two of the conflicts I see frequently between an adolescent boy and his parent. Conflict Resolution Tool State the facts: Who, What, When and Where Make a judgment: A judgment is an “I think you or me statement” about self and about other person State feeling: The Big Four-mad, sad,…
Read MoreParenting Tip: How to Resolve Conflict
Parenting & Conflict Conflict is a part of life. I know people who thoroughly enjoy conflict and others who avoid it at all costs. One of the cornerstones I cover with adolescent boys and their parents is “conflict resolution.” By utilizing my process the family is able to communicate more effectively and peacefully. You-You-You One of…
Read MoreMidwest Book Review Recommends “Saving Our Sons: A Parent’s Guide to Preparing Boys for Success” for Their Parenting Shelf
Thumbs Up Getting reviews on work you’ve put your heart and soul into is so gratifying! Don’t we all love getting a thumbs up? The Quest Project® continues to have one success after the next. One of this week’s highlights was being reviewed by Midwest Book Review. Established in 1976, Midwest Book Review publishes…
Read MoreTherapy and Group Work: The Importance of a Qualified Facilitator
A Look Behind the Scenes One thing I have not shared is I’m a facilitator of The Quest Project®. I am in the “trenches” with the boys that come to see me. I do this work myself, I’m good at it. I know how to quickly uncover and get to the wound an adolescent boy carries. Since 2000…
Read MoreRaising Sons: Integrity, Instilling as a Core Value
With integrity, you have nothing to fear, since you have nothing to hide. With integrity, you will do the right thing, so you will have no guilt. Zig Ziglar I came across this quote recently. I couldn’t get the word “integrity” off of my mind, I ultimately came across this Forbes’ article. It’s a…
Read MoreRaising Sons? Meet Clayton Lessor
Would you like to know who I am and why I do this work? A Sad Little Boy My childhood in quiet suburban South City was anything but quiet. I lived in fear of my dad. I spent most of my time at school tired and scared because I’d been awake most of the night before scared…
Read MoreParenting Boys? 3 Stages of Trouble
When parenting boys, most parents can’t believe their son is troubled. What in the world does he have to be troubled about? It’s interesting the word troubled can be perceived differently to each of us. An example of two extremes is: “being afraid to talk to a girl (mild),” to “committing a crime (severe).” When I say, every boy is troubled, the…
Read MoreRaising a Son: The 5 Things No One Ever Told You About
Raising a son can be difficult, especially if you’re a mom “going it alone.” There is a time in your son’s life that having a healthy male role model is imperative- and that time is when he is transitioning from a boy to a man. Suddenly, during this time your son acts like he can’t stand…
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