Is your teen under a lot of stress? Do they not seem as happy as they once did? Are they suffering from an eating disorder? Do you suspect they are using drugs?

Most of us remember our teenage years as a combination of great fun, burgeoning freedom and a tremendous amount of stress. During this time our hormone levels are skyrocketing, making us feel emotionally out of control. We also feel a greater need to perform well academically and fit into social circles. All of this stress can take its toll on a teen’s mental health and overall well-being.

Common Life Challenges Among Teens

Teens can often face some serious life challenges that impact their mental health and well-being.

• Loss – Loss can come in the form of a death of a loved one, including a pet, and it can also come in the form of parental separation or divorce. Loss also happens when a family moves to a new location and the teen must go to a new school.

• Stress – A little stress is normal in life and can even be motivating. But too much stress can cause burnout at any age. Many teens face tremendous amounts of stress to do well in school, hold down a job, and be accepted by their peers.

• Violence – Teens that are bullied at school or at home suffer, and often alone. If not dealt with, the aftermath of violence can result in PTSD symptoms.

This is not an exhaustive list of reasons why a teen may want to speak with a therapist by any means. If you think your teen could benefit from therapy, please reach out to me.

“If only my child had come with an instruction manual!” That’s a thought that most parents have had at some point in their lives.

Nothing really prepares you to become a parent. Some of us were lucky enough to have parents that set a good example. But others grew up in homes where the dynamic between child and parent was anything but functional or consistently loving.

But the truth is, even if you did have loving parents that did right by you 24/7, you can never be fully prepared to handle sticky situations with your own children. You never really know what behavioral challenges your child may wind up struggling with, and how those will affect your other children and the family as a whole.

This is where parenting coaching comes in.

Coaching is a bit different from traditional psychotherapy or counseling in that it’s focus is more goal directed. Where as traditional therapy may have you spend weeks exploring past events to recognize how they have contributed to current moods and behaviors, parenting coaching helps you choose a goal (get my child to do their homework without a daily tantrum) and offers tried and true techniques to help get the outcomes you desire.

Who is Parenting Coaching For?

Parenting coaching is for any parent that wishes to resolve behavioral struggles with their children. These struggles can include typical daily struggles such as:

• Morning routines

• Homework struggles

• Sibling bickering

But coaching can also help with more demanding behaviors that push the parent’s skillset. These include:

• Dealing with a strong-willed child

• Getting a picky eater to eat

• Engaging with an angry or defiant teenager

• Guiding a child with Attention Deficit issues

• Let’s Get You the Results You Want

A coach is that person in your corner that offers the best tools to reach the goals you’ve set and cheers you on as you do the work and take the necessary steps. I’m here to share what I have learned over the years so you can gain control over your own actions and your home.

If you:

• Are looking for ways to address behavioral issues in your child such as aggression and defiance…

• Need help in taking care of yourself and managing your own stress…

• Want to learn strategies to support your special needs child’s physical, emotional and social development…

• Need guidance on creating a plan to address any other childcare issues or educational problems…