What does your teen need?

Have you ever wondered to yourself, "Is it normal for a teen to act this way?" "Does my son need professional help or is this just a phase?" Knowing what level of support you need is not always easy. Below we provide descriptions of four different circumstances. Take a moment to read each of these descriptions and see which one best applies to your family. (Note: None of these descriptions will perfectly describe your situation. Instead, choose the one that comes the closest to capturing the symptoms and severity of the issues your teen is experiencing.)

Chris

Chris has generally been a good kid, but lately he seems to be more difficult. His attitude is becoming more negative and he's starting to argue more and more. He wants to spend less and less time with family and more and more time with friends. He's becoming more disobedient and sometimes openly defies family rules. He tells lies to get what he wants and lies to try and get out of trouble when he's caught breaking a rule. As a result, there's more conflict in the home and more tension between the parents, especially about how to handle Chris.

If your teen sounds a lot like Chris, click here.

Christina

Christina's attitude has gone from bad to worse. She argues about everything! Some of her better friends don't even come around anymore. Her grades are suffering, and she doesn't seem to even care. She's skipped classes and in other ways been in trouble at school. When her parents talk to her, she just gets defensive and tells them to leave her alone. She's changed her appearance and seems to becoming a totally different person. Recently, she's smelled of smoke and may be experimenting with alcohol and/or drugs. Her parents are frustrated because nothing seems to work. In fact, attempts to fix the problem only seem to make things worse.

If your teen sounds a lot like Christina, click here.

Devin

Devin doesn't seem to care about anything. He has almost no motivation except for a couple things that are important to him. His grades are terrible but that's mostly because he doesn't even try. He just seems to want to sleep, be on the computer, or play video games. He has very little energy and trying to talk to him is like pulling teeth. He may even be cutting himself or participating in other types of self-harm. His parents suggested therapy, but Devin just discounted the idea.

If your teen sounds a lot like Devin, click here.

Sam

Sam's parents are feeling pretty hopeless. For quite some time, Sam has been using drugs and alcohol. Attempts to get him to stop have been pointless. His grades are not what they used to be and his reputation at school has deteriorated due to his open defiance and lack of respect for authority. He has zero respect for family rules and openly defies them. Consequences seem pointless because he just blows them off anyway. He shows blatant disrespect for his parents in his language and his unwillingness to comply with their requests. In general, his entire focus is on manipulating others to get what he wants.

If your teen sounds a lot like Sam, click here.

You may also find it helpful to look over the list of issues below. If any of these issues apply to your circumstances, we invite you to become a member of Family Front. Not only will you gain access to valuable information (e.g., parent library, online seminars, newsletters) but you will also be able to talk with other parents who are facing the same challenges you are.