My Approach to Helping
I’ve been helping teens for 35 yrs and have a good read on the challenges they face and the strategies that are effective in relieving the anxiety, disillusionment, depression, anger, and disconnection that plague so many families. I help teens who are anxious, argumentative, defiant, withdrawn, moody, self-destructive, inattentive, depressed, or doing poorly in school and will help you decide whether the problems you're noticing are part of "typical" teen behavior or a sign of something more serious.
I'm also very sensitive to the fact that many children and adolescents aren't interested in counseling and will try to avoid going, even when they themselves know they need help. I believe, however, that by approaching kids with an updated model of therapy offering lively, thought-provoking conversation, genuine contact with a credible adult and a ton of respect, we can get their attention, their engagement, and their willingness to examine things with a fresh eye. That’s what led to my newest book, Therapeutic Conversations with Adolescents: Helping Teens in Therapy Thrive in an Ultra-Competitive, Screen-Saturated World, which reflects my belief that adolescent therapy has needed a new paradigm in order to appeal to today’s kids — something where they wouldn’t be hounded by dumb questions or talked down to, something where they’d find themselves actually wanting to talk.
Please visit my website - janetedgette.com - where you'll find many articles on parenting teenagers as well as the free download, "9 Things Your Teenager Wished You Understood Better." You can also check out some of my other books, including Stop Negotiating With Your Teen: Strategies for Parenting Your Angry, Moody, Manipulative or Depressed Adolescent and The Last Boys Picked: Helping Boys Who Don't Play Sports Survive Bullies and Boyhood, and my popular article, "Why Teens Hate Therapy."
Examples of the problems I treat: academic decline, moody or manipulative behavior, depression, withdrawal from family, anxiety, problems making or keeping friends, poor self-image or self-esteem, unexplained sadness, self-destructive choices, disrespect toward parents, avoiding responsibility, chronic conflict or tension or disagreements at home, emotional distancing from parents, poor conduct (aggressive, evasive, intimidating), among many other types of issues or conditions.
Call or write me. Let's see if I'm the right person to work with you and your family.
