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

Whining and crying are employed by kids for the purpose of getting something. If it works, then it was worth the effort and will be repeated.

Parents are the external regulator for kids who cannot regulate themselves.

Criticism is not a motivator.

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.

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

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

When a child is disregulated - is the time parents need to be regulated.

Parenting style matters - a lot!

If there is no relationship - nothing else matters !

Learn more.

Depression in Young People (part 2)

 

Robin Williams apparently had several “demons” tormenting him:

  • ADHD
  • substance abuse
  • depression
  • bipolar
  • obsessive compulsive

and he finally could take it no more and he ended his life several days ago.

Experts estimate that approximately 25% of all women will experience clinical depression in their lifetime and 15% of all men. A typical high school of 1000 students is likely to have 100 kids suffer depression each year.

Depression in young people was not identified by psychiatrists until 1989 but it is now the opinion of some experts that the rate of depression in young people exceeds the rate in adults

There is often a difference in symptoms of depression between adults and teens making diagnosis more difficult for young people:

Typical Symptoms of Depression in Adults:

  • tend to be sad
  • stay sad
  • sleep less
  • eat less
  • decrease in libido
  • no change in anxiety
  • no change in physical problems

Frequent Symptoms of Depression in Teens

  • tend to be angry, irritable, act out
  • cycles in & out frequently
  • sleep more
  • eat more
  • libido seldom impaired
  • increased anxiety
  • complains of somatic symptoms

The increased irritability for teenager suffering depression results in frequent family conflicts and the important question that needs to be addressed is “are the symptoms just teenage angst or depression”

THE GOOD NEWS –  recovery rate for single episode depression is high

THE BAD NEWS – each episode increases the risk for another

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

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

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+ Lick Your Kids

  “Lick Your Kids” (figuratively not literally) (2 hours) First […]

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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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+ Taming a Toddler

Many parents wonder what hit them when their sweet little baby turns into an unreasonable toddler – ideas for dealing with mealtime, bedtime, temper tanturms, toilet training, noncompliance, etc.

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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

“Implementing Rick’s techniques and adhering to them is exhausting, but it is a healthy exhaustion rather than the detrimental exhaustion I used to experience.”

(B.F. – Woodstock)