Living Stone Christian Counseling

The teen years are fraught with exciting decisions, confusion, strong emotions and hormones; Add to that media pressure, peer pressure, parental and teacher expectations and the teen’s desire to be a unique, respected individual! Never in history has a generation of youth had greater access to technology, information and communication than this generation. Is it too much? Is it reasonable to assume that because teens have the cognitive skills to navigate the technological super highway, they also have the insight and emotional maturity to do so as well? Have teens been given a Pandora’s box that requires more refined coping skills than what many developmentally possess? Is it any wonder that many teens struggle with maintaining a healthy balance in this flurry of increased freedoms and responsibilities?

It is important to remember that with these new freedoms come new boundaries. Boundaries are safety nets that keep teens on the right course as they learn and test their wings. Now more than ever it is vital for parents to hold the line, maintain boundaries, and help their teen learn how to delay need gratification in a culture that is often encouraging the teen to do the opposite. Providing teens with tools to handle their disappointments, strong emotions, fears and pressures is critical. Parents can speak into their child’s life like no one else; choose to provide them with boundaries and skills to handle life’s difficult moments. This may be difficult, but it is necessary to their successful growth and development. When coping skills are not actively taught, encouraged and modeled at home, many teens are more likely to become confused and choose less effective coping methods (i.e. - alcohol, drugs, unhealthy relationships, etc).

For more information on how to help your teen,

please contact Tiffany Porche at 480-244-6794.