Raising 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…

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Parenting 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,…

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Parenting 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…

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Therapy 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…

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Raising 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…

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Raising 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…

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Parenting 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…

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Raising 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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Parenting Boys: What You Need To Know

  Are you parenting boys? Is dad active in his life?  Do you worry he could be in trouble? Parenting Boys:  Boys Without Fathers One of the most common issues our boys face is growing up without their father.   According to estimates, one in three boys currently lives in a home without a father…

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