Let’s face it. Teens misbehave. This is often their way of testing the boundaries, as they wrestle towards owning their independence and discovering their identity. There are also temptations to be “accepted” by peers and thus acting in a way that they think looks “cool.” Sometimes, the misbehavior is rooted in hormones going awry or the teen’s inability to cope with the rapid changes in his body. It can be helpful to remember that physiologically, your teen’s brain has not...
It is painful for a parent to see his child going down a downward spiral that is paved by psychological issues, drug and substance abuse or criminal acts. When you feel that you have exhausted all remedies and are ready to give up, remember that this is the time when your teen needs you the most. This may be a time for you to consider outside resources, such as a therapeutic school for teens. This type of troubled teen program...
Stress is a very real threat for teenagers. It comes from a variety of areas – a heavy academic load, family conflicts, the desire to fit in with peers, managing a love and social life, as well as the assault of hormones on their emotions. Teens may be ill-prepared to deal with these stressors. Consequently, stressed out teens are more vulnerable to drug or substance abuse, depression, and the downward slope towards becoming a troubled teen. Undoubtedly, teens need the...
Now that your teen has successfully completed a troubled teen wilderness program or a residential program, what’s next? Graduating from a program does not mean that the work is done. The way towards healing has only just begun. The program will guide the teen towards self-discovery – knowing what his negative behaviors are and why he does it, as well as what to do to positively deal with it. As parents, you have the important role of supporting your teen...
Parenting a troubled teen will most likely bring you at the end of your rope. You do not just need to deal with his behavioral problems and its consequences. You also need to find the kind of help that your child needs – and often, this is more help that you are able to give. You can seriously consider enrolling your teen in a troubled teen program. There are a variety of options that are designed for teens who have...
Stress! As adults, we struggle with stress and we can feel it weighing us down. Our physical health and mental wellbeing also bear the negative impact of stress. Now, imagine your teen being faced with his own stressors. If stress is a problem for us adults, think how much the negative impact will be for a teen who is barely equipped with the emotional and mental maturity to deal cope with stress. And your teen does face stress on a...
This summer, help your troubled teen get back on more even footing towards his journey to maturity. A wilderness therapy program can help your teen realize his value and his positive traits even as it provides him with the opportunity to get away from the pressures, peers and bad influences. The program will usually involve outdoor recreational activities (camping, fishing, hiking and trekking). These activities are aimed towards promoting your teen’s self-esteem and outlook and challenge him to look more...
Is your teen undergoing major changes in his life? Are these changes negatively affecting his behavior? Sometimes, parents tend to underestimate the level of stress that their teens are going through, assuming that the teens have the capacity to cope. But it is important to recognize that the stresses that adults may consider “all in a day’s work” can seem massive and overwhelming to a teen. What is Adjustment Disorder? Also referred to as “situational depression”, this type...
During the teenage years, it is not only the changes in the body that is wrecking havoc on your teens. The tensions in your family life, the added pressures of school and the transition from childhood to adulthood and a number of other factors may leave your teen an emotional train wreck. More often than not, he will vent his frustration and confusion in the form of anger. What’s more, these feelings may be directed to figures of authority such...
The teenage years seem like a 180-degree turn for your child’s personality. Your talkative child with the sunny personality seemed to have transformed into a melancholic and quiet teen overnight. This change may also reflect in his choice of hobbies. When once, he loved to be with friends and to play his favorite sport, he now prefers to keep holed up in his room. The mood swings and the shift in interests may be normal for a teenager who has...
