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Parents

Parents

Parents

How Can Parents Tell If a Teen Is a Perpetrator of Dating Violence?

Teen Dating Violence: One Part of a Bigger Problem  Relationship abuse is an issue that eats at the very core of our society. The long-term consequences of abuse are almost too many to list: PTSD, alcohol and substance use disorders, depression, difficulty forming healthy relationships – and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In the words of former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter: “Without any equivocation…the number

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February 21, 2019

If a Parent Thinks Their Teenager is a Victim of Dating Violence, How Can They Be Sure?

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: their child being abused. Sexually, emotionally, or physically, it doesn’t matter which – they’re all virtually unbearable to conceive. And that’s for us, the adults, thinking about it from the outside. We have life experience, we have perspective, and we have a fully developed prefrontal cortex that enables us to use reason, control our emotions, and process disturbing information and the associated emotions. We’re not

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February 14, 2019

So Your Teen Has A Valentine’s Day Date (And You Don’t Like It)

Parents:  So Your Teen Has A Valentine’s Day Date You’re there. The day you knew was coming. Your teenager is going out on their first real date, and it’s on February 14th: Valentine’s Day. You’re freaking out. You tell your friends about it, and they say things like: “How cute!” “That’s adorable!” “Exciting!” And all you’re thinking is: No. Not cute, not adorable, not exciting. I don’t want my kid

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February 13, 2019

The One Thing to Do to Increase Your Self-Love

February 13th is International Self-Love Day. The fact that this day of self-love comes right before Valentine’s Day, the day of showing love to others, conveys an important message to struggling teens and their families: Taking care of yourself first is a prerequisite to showing love to others. In honor of the day, we’re sharing the most important thing you can do to increase your self-acceptance and self-love. As psychologists,

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February 13, 2019

The Seven Core Issues of Adoption

One thing most people don’t know is that the issues around adoption apply to three groups of people: the adoptive children, the adoptive parents, and the birth parents. These three groups are know as the adoptive triad. Each of the issues below are present for all three groups. While every child, adoptive family, and birth family is different, researchers have identified the following group of challenges common to almost all

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February 11, 2019
Parents

Teen Dating Violence: Eleven Signs to Watch For

Teen Dating Violence Warning Signs in Victims Unexplained bruises or injuries Discoloration, pain, or bleeding in, on, or around genitals Pain during urination or bowel movements Symptoms of sexually transmitted diseases. Visit the CDC website for a fact sheet on STDs. Abrupt changes in academic performance Increase in anxiety Mood swings Symptoms of depression: persistent sadness, withdrawal from friends or activities, changes in sleep patterns, loss of appetite Talk of

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February 8, 2019

Five Myths About Parenting by Same-Sex Couples

As a companion piece to our post, “Top Five Facts About Adoption by Same-Sex Parents,” we decided to offer this post. We’ll debunk common myths about parenting by same-sex couples. We’ll address facts about same-sex parents and the children they raise. Hopefully, we’ll clear up some misconceptions left over from generations of opposition to even the idea of same-sex parents raising children. Same-Sex Parenting: Top Five Myths Myth: Same-sex parents

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February 7, 2019

What to Do If Your Teen Lies to You

If it hasn’t happened in your family yet, count yourself among the lucky. If it never happens, count yourself among the blessed. The rest of us mere mortals have to deal with the uncomfortable fact that teens lie to their parents. Not always, and not about everything, but it happens – and that’s life. Here are five helpful things to keep in mind if you know your teenager is lying

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February 6, 2019

Top Nine Components of an Adolescent Addiction Treatment Program

In September of 2004, the Journal of the Americen Medical Association: Pediatrics published a far-ranging study on the treatment of adolescents with alcohol and/or substance use disorders. Twenty-two subject matter experts, including ten researchers, nine clinicians, and three senior policy-makers identified nine components common to the most highly regarded treatment programs available: 1. Assessment and Treatment Matching Treatment centers should conduct comprehensive assessments that create a full biopsychosocial picture of

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February 5, 2019
Parents

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month: Know the Facts

On October 5th, 2017, the dam broke. Journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey published this article in The New York Times detailing three decades of sexual misconduct by the influential Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein. The story featured an interview with celebrity actress Ashley Judd, who recounted experiences with Weinstein during which he attempted to coerce her into sexual activity in a hotel room while she was filming the movie

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February 4, 2019