Marisha Mauch M.MFT, LMFT
Adolescent, Young Adult, and Family Therapy
Parenting Your Teen
They used to enjoy spending time with you. They used to do their chores. Now, they sleep until 11am and have to be asked ten times to take out the trash. Have you ever wanted to just slap their attitude right off their face? (I know, violence is never the answer.) Oh, and the rolling eyes! How did they go from the child that loves a hug before school to a teenager that thinks you are the dumbest person on the planet?
Some things you face as the parent/grandparent/guardian of a teenager are normal and expected. Some things are not and it is important to know the difference. I want to be here to help. Below I have included a list of common concerns I have seen in the parents I have worked with these last few years.
A note to parents: So many parents, especially mothers, that I have counseled come into my office feeling they are to blame for their teenagers' actions, or people have even told them that it is their fault for the way their teenagers are acting. I want to get one thing out of the way right now...my job is NOT to blame you. My job is to help you. It does not help you, or me, or your family to determine who is at fault. With that being said, let's focus on our goals and let me help you be the parent you want to be to your teenager.
Common Concerns
iPhones, smart phones, Facebook, Tumblr, Instagram, Pinterest, SnapChat, Tablets, and Apps. What happened to playing outside? How do I turn this thing on? Unsure of what some of the things listed above even mean?
These are common questions I receive from several parents. Let's be honest, we, myself included, did not grow up with this kind of technology. The world is moving so much faster than when we were kids. I want to help you understand your teenager's technology, how it affects them, how you can better supervise their time and activity on it, and how you can use it.
Ever heard the phrase "It's none of your business!" from a teen living in your house? Receiving answers like "good," "fine," "whatever," to questions about their lives?
Communication with your teen is crucial. Communication is usually something that drastically changes during the teen years though. Healthy, honest communication is important and needed within every family, especially with your teen. I want to help you and your teen find healthy ways to communicate with one another.
>>> Help! My teen is using technology I don't even know how to turn on!
>>> Help! I want to talk to my teen more!
The best resource I have ever found for helping parents with an out of control teenager is a parenting class called: The Parent Project, Sr. Over the course of ten weeks you will have the opportunity to meet other parents dealing with similar struggles with their teenagers. I facilitate this class with a parent of a teenager. We cover a range of topics including substance usage, running away, threats of suicide, stealing, gang violence, and others. The next class start date is TBD. Feel free to email me to receive an update on when a class is starting.
Ever heard the phrases: "I'm calling dad" or "I'm calling CPS" or "You're not my real mom/dad"? What about the question, "So how many kids do you have?" and as a foster parent you're thinking fifteen or thirty or more, or are they asking now or over my lifetime or how many are biological?
Parenting is rarely easy, especially with teenagers, especially when you are handling it as a single parent, or a step-parent new to the family, or a foster parent for a season in the teen's life. There are unique challenges and blessings that come with being a single parent, step-parent, or foster parent. I want to help you navigate these challenges and blessings through individual, family, or couples therapy.
>>> Help! My teen is out of control!
>>> Help! I'm a single parent! I'm a step-parent! I'm a foster parent!