Parenting

Parenting College-Age Youth

Parenting College-Age Youth

Congratulations! You have a college-age child — that means you have successfully gotten through the tough developmental periods of infancy, early childhood, and the teenage years. Pat yourselves on the back! Now, you job isn’t over yet — but there are some things you might want to know about parenting the college-age person. Here are…

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Seven Tips for Parents of Teens: Healthy Communication

1. Build Trust by Treating Your Teen With Respect. Ask, rather than demand. Value their ideas, even if you don’t agree. Praise effort. Tell them you love them. Talk to them with a respectful tone of voice. Ask if they want your advice before you start giving it. Respect and establish boundaries — physical and…

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Parenting in Recovery: Recognizing Legacies from the Past

Parenting your children once you are in your own recovery is one of the most difficult challenges you will face. Few of us bring home a parenting manual along with the diapers when the baby and we leave the hospital, and unfortunately, parenting, like conflict resolution, isn’t usually taught in school. If you are in…

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Austin Family Counselor

Finding My Father

I returned from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy conference two years ago more excited than I usually am after a meeting, especially electrified by a workshop I had attended on family secrets. The idea that much so-called psychological pathology might arise from shame over long-buried family secrets struck a deep chord in…

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