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Reversing the Toxic Triangle with Your Spouse & Teen
Parents need to support each other, yet they can’t support negative treatment of their child or teen. This leads to what I call the “toxic triangle.”
Continue reading→The Relief, Frustration & Opportunities of Summer
Given that adulthood is coming up quickly, adolescence should be seen as the time to learn how to set goals, make plans, and execute against those plans.
Continue reading→What if Neither Parent Is Comfortable Enforcing Limits?
Not all Control Battles are loud and angry… they can be soft and supportive, too. When neither parent enforces limits, I call that Double Softy Syndrome.
Continue reading→Is Your Family “Pond” Healthy?
Families are social ecologies, and just like biological ones, they resist change both outside and within. And we call this resistance to change homeostasis.
Continue reading→What Causes Good Students to Fall Behind & Play Catch-Up
Many kids start school strong only to fall behind and have to play catch-up, often with a big push at the end of the semester… basically, right around now.
Continue reading→What to Do When Your Great Kid Displays Dark Depression
Meet Emma. Emma began avoiding social activities, dropped piano lessons, and started producing dark art and poetry. Her parents weren’t sure what to do next.
Continue reading→Have You Heard of This Hidden Relationship Killer?
This hidden relationship killer is so powerful and so pervasive, that it is a significant part of the problem in literally every couple I work with…
Continue reading→How’s a Parent to Know if a Power Struggle Is Normal?
How is a parent to know when the power struggle they’re having with their teen is normal, and when it’s truly become a serious problem?
Continue reading→How Our Kids Help Us Find & Heal Our Own Issues
If you notice a familiar pattern in your teen, ask yourself, “What’s my issue?” The answer to this question could create a healing opportunity for you both.
Continue reading→What Is the Parent-Child or Parent-Teen Control Battle?
Control Battles use up the emotional resources in a family. And the longer it goes on, the more serious the impact will be on your teen’s development.
Continue reading→How to Turn Constant Criticism into Intimacy
Is it possible to respond to a stream of constant criticism without getting angry, or defending yourself? Can criticism be an opportunity for intimacy?
Continue reading→How to Define Structure & Responsibilities for Teens
When parents make their expectations clear, arguing and resistance go down. In this post, I will explore how to define structure and responsibilities for teens.
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