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It is what we say and do when we're angry that creates the very model our children will follow when dealing with their own frustrations.

Good parenting requires sacrifice. Childhood lasts for only a few brief years , but it should be given priority while it is passing before your eyes

If there is no relationship - nothing else matters !

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

Children do not develop on their own - they only develop within relationships.

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.

Early intervention is always better than crisis management - but it is never too late to do the right thing.

"To be a man, a boy must see a man."  (J.R. Moehringer)

There has been an explosion in the prescribing of medication for very young children, particularly preschool and kindergarten boys (Juli Zito , Univ. of Maryland)

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

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Developmental Tasks During Adolescence

DEVELOPMENTAL TASKS DURING ADOLESCENTS 1) adjust to physical changes 2) separate from their parents 3) develop a social network 4) begin to focus on educational and vocational objectives 5) develop a sexual identity     All of the above is a lot to expect in the few short years of adolescence  = STRESS     STRESS HAS A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON PARTS OF THE BRAIN INVOLVED IN THE REGULATION AND CONTROL OF EMOTIONS     […]

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Diagnostic Criteria for Depression

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA for MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER DSM-IV   Presence of 5 or more of the following during the same 2  week period and represent a change from  previous functioning. a) depressed mood most of the day, nearly every  day   b) markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or  almost all activities   c) significant change in weight or appetite – either  increase or decrease   d) insomnia   e) agitation nearly every day   […]

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The “Behavioural” Approach

The behavioural approach to managing children involves the application of learning principles identified by famous psychologists such as Pavlov, Thorndike, Skinner, Wolpe and Bandura. Each one of these individuals and countless others described strategies that increased desired behaviours, decreased undesired behaviours or taught new behaviours. These behaviour pioneers stressed the importance of direct observation and carefully analyzing the nature of the child’s behaviour in terms of “what is the kid trying to achieve?”. Once the […]

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What Do The Young People Say Depression Was Like?

“It was like a dread inside, there all the time. When I was with my friends it would go away a bit, but it always came back.” Jack – age 15   “I started worrying about everything, even things that never bothered me before. I was so worried about being asked a question in school that I used to feel sick in the mornings. Some days I just could not go to school.”    Lois […]

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Teen Depression vs Adult Depression

DIFFERENCES IN SYMPTOMS IN ADULTS & TEENS   ADULTS tend to be sad stay sad sleep less eat less decrease in libido no change in anxiety no change in physical problems Teens tend to be angry, irrational, act out cycles in and out frequently sleep more eat more libido seldom impaired increased anxiety complains of somatic symptoms There is a marked increase in irritability which is frequently evident in young people leading to family conflicts. […]

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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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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

“We were so naive. We thought our son’s poor behaviour was just a phase he was passing through. Thankfully you led us ‘out of the wilderness'”

(N.S. – London)