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COACHING FOR FAMILIES OF
TROUBLED TEENS
   
Family / Parent / Teen Coaching
Visit:
www.positivefamilysolutions.com
E-mail:
coaching@positivefamilysolutions.com
Are you worried
about your teen?
Is he or she
exhibiting behavior that's keeping you up at night?
Have things gotten
so bad that you are considering alternatives, like sending him or
her away? If
so, please read this first ...
Be aware
Did you know there are no federal laws
in place to protect children and teens in residential treatment
programs? The Internet is filled with promises of helping kids by
sending them to their program, keeping children and teens for an
average of two years, sometimes longer, even up to as long as over
five years. Some of these programs have never been visited by their
states, some have no licenses, others who do are not closely
monitored. And no studies have been done to prove their
effectiveness. When we as
parents are forced to go back to work and place our babies into the
care of others, we do our homework. We look for someone who is
caring, compassionate, and who will provide a positive environment
for our child. We would never consider leaving our child in the care
of someone who we'd never met, or a place we'd never seen. However,
parents have felt desperate enough to place their kids into programs
they never even visited with staff they never even met. Laws are in
place to protect children in home day care settings as well as day
care center settings. When a provider is even suspected of abuse or
neglect, the operation is shut down until the provider is cleared of
the allegations. However, we
have seen completely the opposite when it comes to abuse and neglect
of children and teens in residential treatment centers (residential
boarding schools, boot camps, behavior modification programs,
positive peer culture programs, mental health programs, wilderness
programs, etc.) The programs, typically, remain open and people
escape convictions even when children have died.
Alternatives
There are alternatives to sending kids
away. Many children and teens who have been sent to programs were
sent because their parents were literally at their wits end. They
typically have no support from others and are often single parents
or are in a blended family situation.
Kids whose parents divorce take it
a lot harder than most parents care to admit. Many of these kids
experience depression and fear, worried about their parents and how
their family will survive. They experience anger and guilt, feeling
somehow responsible for the breakup. If only ... they think. Yet
they hold most if it inside, not sharing their pain with their
parents.
I have been coaching, mentoring,
and advocating families in these situations and have found that
clear communication, mutual respect, and new tools for both parents
and teens work well to resolve many issues.
Read what a few others have said -
it is their stories, and others, that have convinced me coaching is
a great alternative.
I personally believe sending a
child away should be the absolute last resort, after all else has
been tried and has failed. I believe giving up too soon is sending
the wrong message to your child.
Once they know you are willing to
listen, to take your share of responsibility, and that you truly
want to turn things around, they are often willing to accept their
share of responsibility as well, to work toward a better
relationship with you. Because, after all, most of their acting out
is an attempt at getting your attention and in having you prove to
them you still love and care for them, enough to take charge make
changes. If you are
interested in exploring this alternative, please call me for a free
30-minute consultation at 1-877-835-7589. Each situation is unique
so call to see if this is a good fit for you. You have nothing to
lose and everything to gain!
Sincerely, Isabelle Zehnder
Certified Family Coach
www.positivefamilysolutions.com
Founder and President
www.caica.org
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