Santa Monica families have an experienced family therapist to turn to for dealing with issues regarding their teenagers. Santa Monica Family Therapist–Sandra Dupont–offers family therapy, along with parent coaching and “Effective Parenting” classes and teen therapy and life coaching for adolescents.
Santa Monica is a lovely area to raise your family. But not all parents have the luxury of spending the time that they would like with their children. In families where both parents are the breadwinners, teaching life skills to your teen may be better handled by a family therapist.
Not all families require full on family therapy. Sometimes, a little parent coaching goes a long way to understand how to effectively communicate with your teen and guide them to become a productive member of society. Santa Monica family therapist, Sandra Dupont, knows that respectful communication goes a long way.
Almost all families argue. But it’s the quality of the arguments between parents and teens that makes the difference. These arguments provide opportunities to teach teens how to present their point of view effectively — a necessary skill later on in life with spouses, friends and colleagues on the job. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge teens when they are arguing calmly and persuasively.
Arguments with teenagers in families most commonly occur over grades, chores, money and friends. Parents often react in a variety of ways. Some laugh; roll their eyes; while others say, “let’s talk about this.” How parents handle these kinds of disagreements lays the foundation for what communication skills teens take into their peer world.
Families where teens are encouraged to be calm and confident and persuasive with their parents will act the same way when they are with their peers. They are more able to confidently disagree, and jus say ‘no’ when offered alcohol or drugs. Teens are 40 percent more likely to say ‘no’ to drugs than kids who were discouraged from arguing with their parents.
The bottom line is that effective arguing acts as an inoculation against negative peer pressure. Kids who felt confident to express themselves in their family also felt confident being honest with their friends.
So, ironically the best thing families can do is help their teenager learn to argue more effectively.
Parents won’t always agree with their teen’s point of view. But it is important to get across the message that you take your kid’s point of view seriously and will honestly consider what they have to say. Parents demonstrate that they respect their kids’ input are much more likely to raise independent thinkers who are able to resist peer group pressure.
If live near Santa Monica and are interested in finding a family therapist to work with you and your teenager, contact Sandra Dupont at 310 951-5678.
I look forward to meeting you! Schedule a FREE Parent Consultation.
For more information, please visit my website:
SandraDupontMFT.com
ADOLESCENT THERAPIST | PARENT COACH | TEEN MENTOR
Providing service for: Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Malibu, Beverly Hills, Beverly Glen, Culver City, Brentwood, Westwood, Marina Del Rey, Mar Vista, Encino, Sherman Oaks, Topanga Beach and Topanga Canyon, Ocean Park, Hancock Park, West Hollywood.
