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Some hope their children will be like sponges soaking up the truth and wisdom imparted by their parents. However appealing this philosophy might be, it seldom seems to catch on with their children.

Children do not develop on their own - they only develop within relationships.

Relationships matter:  change comes through forming trusting relationships. People, not programs change people.

"Moody" and "unpredictable" are adjectives parents will often use when referring to their teenagers.

We should not medicate the boys so they fit the school; we should change the school to fit the boy. (Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D)

Being a parent of a teenager can cure a person of narcissism.

A tantruming toddler is a little ball of writhing muscle and incredible strength. It's like trying to carry a greased pig past a slop bucket.

"Rules without relationship leads to rebellion" (Josh McDowell)

Criticism is not a motivator.

"The thing that impresses me most about North America is the way parents obey their children"    (King Edward VII , 1841-1910)

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Myths vs Facts – Suicide

MYTH VERSUS FACT
Knowing truth from fiction can make the difference!
Myth: Teens who talk about suicide never do.
Fact: Most of the time, people who attempt suicide have   provided significant clues to their intentions.
 
Myth: Nothing can stop someone once he has decided  to take his own life.
Fact: Most adolescents who contemplate suicide are torn. They are in pain and want their suffering to end.  They don’t necessarily want to die to make that  happen, but they can’t conceive of another way,  and too often their cries for help go unheeded.
 
Myth: talking about suicide with a teen may give them ideas.
Fact: While teens at risk might follow the model of a peer who committed suicide, talking about it in order  to prevent it will not encourage him to try it.
 
Myth: Only certain “types” of kids commit suicide.
Fact: There is no specific type. Socioeconomic status, intelligence, and culture don’t make a teen any   more or less vulnerable to suicidal thoughts or actions.

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you […]

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+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

  A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain […]

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+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

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+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

This workshop will present the facts, myths, misconceptions, controversy and […]

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See more of our workshops


Contact

2720 Rath Street, Putnam, Ontario
NOL 2BO

Phone: (519) 485-4678
Fax: (519) 485-0281

Email: info@rickharper.ca

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Parents' Comments

“Our daughter was the joy of our life until she turned 13, then all hell broke loose. Rick helped us understand what was happening to her and we made some adjustments that helped us get through it. She’s now in University and doing well.”

(D.A. – St. Thomas)