Posts Tagged ‘teenage years’
Warning Signs of Opioid Abuse
I’ve written many times about teens addicted to and dying from heroin, smoking pot and drinking. I recently covered the warning signs of suicide. There’s another potential killer you should be aware of, opioid abuse. I am dedicating this blog to my dear friend who recently lost his 29-year-old son. Opioids Can Kill According to the…
Read MoreWarning Signs of Suicide
It seems a day doesn’t go by without hearing about another suicide on the news, from a friend or a client who’s either dealing with the pain of loss or worse, having suicidal thoughts. Me Too As a therapist I help clients deal with the devastating effects of death and the loss that accompanies it on a regular basis. I’m also…
Read MoreCore Value-Accountability
Along with honesty, empathy and integrity, I regard accountability a very important core value. The “Yes…but” Game Do you play the “yes…but” game at your house? Too many times parents are quick to “move on” if their child has done something wrong. “Yes, I wrecked the car mom…but it wasn’t my fault!” There’s no accountability!…
Read MoreCore Value Empathy
I’ve witnessed a fair number of parents lately making the decision to “shield” their son from tragedy, death, divorce; basically, anything that may cause sadness. It’s unhealthy, it prevents him from feeling/having empathy, let me explain why. What Is Empathy? Psychology Today says it like this: Empathy is the experience of understanding another person’s condition from their…
Read MoreRite-of-Passage & Initiation (Part Two)
Last week I explained “rite-of-passage” and the important processes an adolescent boy goes through to become an initiated man. Now let’s cover what being an initiated man means! Initiation to Manhood Adolescence ranges from 11-18 years of age. According to theorist, this stage of life is crucial; it gives individuals the challenge of establishing an…
Read MoreParenting Boys? Managing Aggressive Behavior
It’s a good time to talk about “aggressiveness, assertiveness and aggressive behavior!” My recent blog on healthy masculinity was to caution getting caught up in the recent frenzy that masculinity was the “cause” for bad behavior. Masculinity and guns don’t go hand in hand; masculinity and irrational behavior don’t either! But what do you do when your son displays aggressiveness and/or…
Read MoreBroken Boys-Signs to Watch For
How can a parent not be worried sick to send their kid off to school; a place trusted for years to keep children safe. We send our prayers and condolences to the families in Florida that lost loved ones. I’m reminded of this saying: “Bad things happen to good people.” Help with the Grief In…
Read MoreRaising Sons? Managing Difficult Feelings
The sound of laughter is sweet; we all love to hear a baby giggle, kids and adults laughing! It makes us smile just hearing it. But what happens when your son’s sad or mad? No Laughing Matter I talk and write a lot about feelings, “The Big 4”-mad, sad, glad and afraid, more importantly about how…
Read MoreHow to Manage Your Teen’s Rebellion, According to the Pros
Happy to be featured in a recent Thriveworks article! It’s no secret that the teenage years are often characterized by rebellion—there is, however, an ongoing argument about how parents should properly handle this phase. Should they step in or back off? Do they need to crack down on the rules or prove their trust? What’s the most…
Read MoreAdolescent Son In Trouble? Final Step
Over the past 3 weeks I’ve laid out the steps to take if you suspect trouble with your adolescent son. Unfortunately, when the first three steps (boundaries & limits, counseling and intensive outpatient) have failed it’s time to move to the final step. The Final Step=Intensive Inpatient If you’ve reached this step with your adolescent son it’s…
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