Parenting Tip: Is Your Son Grieving?

  Is Your Son Grieving a Loss? There are many definitions of grief, the one I like best is by The Grief Recovery Institute: “Grief is the normal and natural emotional reaction to loss or change of any kind.  Of itself, grief is neither a pathological condition nor a personality disorder.  Grief is the conflicting feelings caused by…

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Is My Son Smoking Pot or Drinking? What to Do Next

  Are you afraid your son is smoking pot, drinking or worse? My Son Would Never Do That  I hope you’re not deceiving yourself; drugs and alcohol are readily available EVERYWHERE!  He can escape his feelings by “numbing out” and find refuge by drinking or smoking pot.  And worse let’s not forget the huge opioid epidemic that’s sweeping the…

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Advancing The Work!

I am excited!  I am in the final phase of my Ph.D. work!  What I’ve Been Up To One very important component of my dissertation was to gather data to support my topic Difference of a Counselor Facilitated Adolescent Boys’ Group on Behavior.  I had the privilege of facilitating The Quest Project® to a great group of boys at Woodridge Middle School…

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Parenting Tips: For Graduation & Beyond

Graduation is a major milestone for your son.  Celebrate his accomplishment! Congratulations-He Made It! This is a very exciting time!  I congratulate you if you are honoring a graduate in your home.  It’s a time to honor the achievement and begin to plan the next steps if you haven’t already done so.  If your son plans to attend college…

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Raising Sons: Could He Have PTSD?

  Raising Sons & PTSD Did you know that PTSD is not exclusive to our military servicemen?  We hear about “post- traumatic stress disorder” (PTSD) most often as a result of some of the horrific sights our young men witnessed while serving in the military. What Is PTSD Many times, a parent misses the signs…

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Parenting Boys: The Importance of Activity

Parenting Boys and the Importance of Sports Activity You’ve heard it said many times “boys are physical and visual!”  That statement is not only true, it’s proven.  This inspired me to write about parenting boys and  sports activity. Sports enables adolescent boys to get mentoring from a coach and a “release” of stored/pent-up energy with their peers. Keep Your Son…

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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…

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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: 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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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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