Hi Mark,We are finding your book very interesting. I have a question concerning parents and councellors. Often we are told to "butt out", “your daughters disorganization is due to your disorganization.” We were led to believe from one school councellor that our daughter’s difficulties all stemmed from our ADD son and we should have been spending more time with her.
Often our daughter speaks with these councellors, we never have access to them except to receive their criticism as our daughter is over the age of 16 and will not allow us to know anything.
They will allow us to vent, but we never get any feedback except these blunt comments.
As a mom, I cannot take these negative comments much longer. She started with a new councellor about 4 weeks ago and he wants to talk with just me (mom). I have found in past experience that usually in these instances, I get belittled into the ground, but if my husband comes it seems to change the picture. Is this just me or does this happen to other moms as well? I am tired of being made feel like I am the one with the problem.
Our daughter has Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and by research on the net, this can lead to Type II Bipolar if left untreated, but we cannot find anyone who is willing to treat the initial disorder. She was put on mood stabilizers for type II bipolar, but is non-compliant in taking them.
E. & P.
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Hi E. & P.,
Sending the kid to counseling is simply another “traditional” parenting strategy that has little or no benefit with “non-traditional” kids – and in too many cases, counseling makes a bad problem worse. One-on-one counseling with the child or with just a portion of the family is not recommended!! If the entire family can attend, then counseling may have some benefit. Even then, you will not get much bang for your buck (and you’re hearing this from a counselor -- me).
The best approach for dealing with strong-willed, out of control teens is outlined in the eBook …you need nothing else. Let me repeat this …you need nothing else. This charges you, dear parent, with the difficult work of reading the material thoroughly and making a whole-hearted effort to implement the recommended parenting strategies. This is YOUR job – not the counselor’s.
Re: not taking meds. This needs a consequence in the same way any other behavioral problem needs a consequence. (Please refer to “When You Want Something From Your Kid” in the Anger Management chapter of the eBook).
Here’s to a better home environment,
Mark
