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Setting limits teaches your children valuable skills they will use the rest of their lives. One day, they will report to a job where their ability to follow rules will dictate their success.

Criticism is not a motivator.

Many clinicians find it easier to tell parents their child has a brain-based disorder than suggest parenting changes. Jennifer Harris (psychiatrist)

"Cutting" is a visible sign to the world that you are hurting.

"Unexpressed feeling never die. They are buried alive and come back later in ugly ways." (Stephen Covey)

If you are headed in the wrong direction as a parent - you are allowed to make a U-turn.

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)

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

Children fare better when expectations on them are clear and firm.

The challenge of adolescence is to balance the right of the parents to feel they are in charge with the need of the adolescent to gain independence.

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Young & Bipolar

YOUNG & BIPOLAR
 
Bipolar = episodes of extraordinary energy and racing grandiose thoughts alternating with periods of    deep, perplexing depression (manic depressive)
 
                  Manic state:
                                    – great energy
                                    – unrealistic “highs”
                                    – go without sleep for days
                                    – rapid speech, flipping topics
                                    – intensely focus on activities or projects to the detriment of everything else
                                    – marked increase in sexual interests- risky sex,  masturbating
                                    – alcohol & drug abuse
                                    – reckless driving
                                    – normal inhibitions gone
                                    – flying thoughts but they do not make sense
 
                  Depressed State:
                                    – deep paralyzing depression
 
 
MOOD SWINGS ARE:
                  – extreme
                  – extensive
                  – potentially self-destructive
 
 CAUSE
                  – not known
                  – imbalance in brain chemistry
                                                      – serotonin
                                                      – norepinephrine
                  – strong evidence of genetic predisposition
 
 
 
80% of Bipolar adults have suicidal ideation
40% of Bipolar adolescents attempt suicide
15% do eventually commit suicide
25% of suicides victims have Bipolar
Bipolar can exist with other mental diseases complicating treatment
Bipolar is a serious mental disease that can be lethal
 
 
 
TREATMENT
                  – medications       – lithium
                                                      – anticonvulsants
                                                      – long term
                  – prognosis for Bipolar is optimistic with  proper and consistent treatment

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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)