Advice for Parents of Troubled Teens


Advice for Parents of Troubled Teens

How Two Co-Workers And Friends Learned They Are Biological Siste…

Questions To Ask Before Taking A DNA Test

Behind the Wheel: Drunk and Deadly

Treats For The 'Dr. Phil' Studio Audience

Signs Your Doctor May Be Crossing The Line

‘It’s A Betrayal Of Trust,’ Says Michigan Judge About Doctors Wh…

UCLA Health ‘Grateful’ For Patients Who Came Forward With Sexual…

Flavor Chasing: The Teen Vaping Crisis

DNA Surprises

‘Dr. Phil’ Digital Exclusive: Why Woman Who Works With Juveniles…

'King Of Roses' And Florist To The Stars Eric Buterbaugh On ‘I’v…

Judge Says Locking Up Minors Should Be Last Resort – But Sometim…

Man Says Teen Son Has Been In Trouble With The Law And The Juven…

Mom Claims Son Is Locked Up For Minor Incidents, Victim Of Schoo…

Groomed and Deceived by White Coat Predators

How Should We Treat Juvenile Delinquents?

Statement From The Family Of Idaho Student Murders Suspect Bryan…

Real Life Heroes Rewarded For Good Deeds

Former Friend Of Suspect In Idaho Student Murders Says He Was ‘K…
It's normal for teenagers to want to feel independent. But it's not typical for them to act out in dangerous extremes. If your teenager is creating self-destructive situations, you can't afford not to intervene. Should you wait until your teenager is in a perilous situation before you do something about it? The answer is not "no," it's "Hell no!" Dr. Phil explains:
Identify the Cause
Teenagers are known to explore new things, but they don't make severe switches in personality just out of the blue. If they're making drastic behavioral changes, there's a reason. It's a cause-and-effect situation. As a parent, it's your responsibility to identify what's behind the change. It may be a recent event, or it may be something deep-rooted.
Look Back
Negative events that happened at ages 2, 3 or 4 help to shape children's personalities. By the time these toddlers become teenagers, they've been living with the resulting pain for most of their lives. Young children may feel pain and anger, but they lack the ability to act on those emotions. Teenagers, however, are able to act on these feelings with more lasting — and harmful — consequences.
Listen and Talk
Teenagers today have more opportunities to make bad decisions than they did in years past. This is all the more reason that you must be a positive, reliable person in your child's life. Listen to him or her and resist the urge to judge or advise; sometimes just being heard helps. Even though they're often reluctant to admit it, they seek approval, love, and a "soft place to fall" in their parents. If they don't feel valued, loved and understood at home, they'll turn elsewhere to get the acceptance they so deeply need.
Act Like a Parent
...especially if your teenager is already going down the wrong path. A warm relationship is ideal, but sometimes you must do things your child won't understand. Remember: you're a parent, not a pal. Your responsibility is to ensure the well-being and safety of your child. Intervening in a dangerous situation (like ones involving drugs, abuse or truancy) might make your child dislike you, but it will also save his or her life. Don't "go along just to get along;" do what's best for your child.
Identify the Cause
Teenagers are known to explore new things, but they don't make severe switches in personality just out of the blue. If they're making drastic behavioral changes, there's a reason. It's a cause-and-effect situation. As a parent, it's your responsibility to identify what's behind the change. It may be a recent event, or it may be something deep-rooted.
Look Back
Negative events that happened at ages 2, 3 or 4 help to shape children's personalities. By the time these toddlers become teenagers, they've been living with the resulting pain for most of their lives. Young children may feel pain and anger, but they lack the ability to act on those emotions. Teenagers, however, are able to act on these feelings with more lasting — and harmful — consequences.
Listen and Talk
Teenagers today have more opportunities to make bad decisions than they did in years past. This is all the more reason that you must be a positive, reliable person in your child's life. Listen to him or her and resist the urge to judge or advise; sometimes just being heard helps. Even though they're often reluctant to admit it, they seek approval, love, and a "soft place to fall" in their parents. If they don't feel valued, loved and understood at home, they'll turn elsewhere to get the acceptance they so deeply need.
Act Like a Parent
...especially if your teenager is already going down the wrong path. A warm relationship is ideal, but sometimes you must do things your child won't understand. Remember: you're a parent, not a pal. Your responsibility is to ensure the well-being and safety of your child. Intervening in a dangerous situation (like ones involving drugs, abuse or truancy) might make your child dislike you, but it will also save his or her life. Don't "go along just to get along;" do what's best for your child.
All content provided and shared on this platform (including any information provided by users) is intended only for informational, entertainment, and communication purposes on matters of public interest and concern and is not intended to replace or substitute for professional medical, financial, legal, or other advice. None of the content should be considered mental health or medical advice or an endorsement, representation or warranty that any particular treatment is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. If you have specific concerns or a situation in which you require professional or medical advice, you should consult with an appropriately trained and qualified specialist.