welcome image

Children today are under enormous pressures rarely experienced by their parents or grandparents. Many of today's children are being enticed to grow up too quickly and are encountering challenges for which they are totally unprepared.

The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. (Peggy O'Mara)

Criticism is not a motivator.

"Parents aren't the cause of ADHD, but they are part of the solution." (Kenny Handleman, M.D.)

The teenage years require a delicate balance between the young person's need to gain independence, and the parent's need to retain authority.

Children mimic well. They catch what they see better than they follow what they hear.

Removing a child from a traumatic environment does not remove the trauma from the child's memory.

You cannot reason with someone who is being unreasonable.

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

Simple rules adhered to when children are young can prevent more serious problems later.

Learn more.

Causes of Depression in Teens

CAUSES
  • not clearly understood
  • no consensus
  • interaction between: – brain chemistry – genetic vulnerability, life events, coping skills

 
 
There is no gene or gene cluster, no one environmental factor or a single loss or traumatic event that triggers major depression.
 
 
 
Very conscientious, perfectionist types appear to be more prone to depression than their easy going peers.


 
 
Major depressive disorder  usually spontaneously passes within 2 years.
 
 
 
 
It has a tendency to reoccur in later years.


 
 

All people have ups and downs in life. When doctors diagnose depression they mean:

  • a profoundly depressed mood
  • significant impairment

Back to Top

Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

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

Learn more

+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

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

Learn more

+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

Learn more

+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

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

Learn more

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

Archive


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)