The Teen Whisperer: How to Break Through the Silence and Secrecy of Teenage Life Hardcover - 2007

From the publisher

Mike Linderman is a teen therapist unlike any other. A real-life cowboy, he wakes up at the crack of dawn, works the cattle on his ranch, and then counsels some of the country's most troubled teens, approaching them with a unique blend of down-home honesty, straight-talk discipline, and pure intention that is rarely found in a therapist's office. Most of the teens Mike treats are angry, abused, violent, and dangerous--they are children without hope. Yet despite their difficult pasts, he has achieved extraordinary success with them, helping to turn their lives around and earning him the nickname the "Teen Whisperer."

Now he shares the secrets behind his success with parents everywhere, demonstrating how his regimen of hard work, integrity, and effective communication has turned seriously at-risk kids into loving, well-balanced, and productive teens. Beginning with the foundation that a teen acts out inappropriately when one or more of the Five Primary Needs--Survival, Fun, Freedom, Power, and Belonging--isn't being met by his or her family, Mike uses stories that range from teen substance abuse to sexual promiscuity to violence, to discuss how and why negative behavior begins. With these stories of real kids, he explains what you can do to help your child make better choices while avoiding the unproductive power struggles that mar so many attempts at reconciliation.

In addition, Mike offers a concrete plan to help you address your teen's needs, amend your words (not just your rules), and rebuild your relationship, as you

• Create the right approach to positive change
• Use appropriate praise to establish pure intention
• Communicate effectively
• Outline the right set of rules for your child

More than just a plan to rein in bad behavior, The Teen Whisperer deconstructs the emotional barriers that adolescence has placed between you and your child, helping you to work with teens on their level--instead of simply treating them as subordinates. With this straightforward and open perspective, both you and your teen will learn to offer each other mutual respect and kindness, as you work together to heal the troubled hearts of your family.