Teen Speak: A guide to understanding and communicating with your teen

You don't have to be a professional to reach teens! In this practical guidebook, Dr. Jennifer Salerno combines her professional expertise in adolescent behavior with a mother's wisdom to help parents build strong relationships with their teenage children. If you feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable talking with your tween or teen about sex, body image, substance use, or issues such as suicide and depression, you're not alone. Millions of parents have trouble discussing sensitive issues with their children, but it's critical to know how to tackle these difficult conversations to prevent serious injury and premature death in our teens. This book presents practical communication strategies based on the ways teens think, act, and do the things they do-to help them change their behaviors. Strategies are presented in an easy-to-use guide for parents and others interested in helping teens. Dr. Salerno provides a detailed road map on how to get the conversation started, using real-world examples of teen-parent interactions and sample responses to common scenarios to support positive change and safer decision-making. In this book, you'll gain practical strategies for connecting with your teen to reduce their risks, set them up for long-term success, and develop trusting relationships that will continue into adulthood.