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

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

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.

Parenting style matters - a lot!

The more 2 parents differ in their approaches to discipline, the more likely it leads to trouble for the child.

Adolescence can be the cruelest place on earth. It can really be heartless.  ( Tori Amos)

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

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.

If there is no relationship - nothing else matters !

Don't wait for him to turn 10 before you reveal that you are not in fact the hired help whose job it is to clean up after him.

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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

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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)