The Unofficial Guide to Therapeutic Parenting - The Teen Years

by Sally Donovan

Overview

An honest insight into the rollercoaster reality of therapeutically parenting teenagers.

Raising any teenager is tough, but raising teens who have experienced trauma in their early years is a whole different - and more difficult - ball game. Adoptive parent Sally Donovan is here to answer every question you've ever wanted to ask about therapeutically parenting teenagers, and a whole lot more besides.

Therapeutic parenting is equal parts love, commitment, determination, and realism, and Sally writes about it all with equal parts blazing wit, tear-jerking honesty, and wisdom. Read this book to hear a voice speaking from experience - and above all, the heart - about everything to expect from therapeutically parenting your teens.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784504441
Publisher:	Kingsley, Jessica Publishers
Publication date:	07/18/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Sally Donovan OBE is an award-winning writer and adoptive parent honoured for her work in the adoption field. She became a writer with Jessica Kingsley Publishers after long diversions into aerospace and horticulture. Sally was business columnist of the year in 2013/14 as judged by The British Society of Magazine Editors and the Professional Publishers Association for work with the magazine Community Care. In 2017, she was awarded an OBE. Sally is a reader, a gardener, a walker, and a committed tea drinker. She also loves music, comedy, and people being nice to each other. She is a passionate voice within the UK adoption community, and Tweets at @sallydwrites.

Table of Contents

Foreword Vivien Norris 7

Acknowledgements 13

Introduction 15

Adolescence 24

It's All About Us 28

Chaos 48

The Internet 81

Family Life 99

Risk-Taking 114

Education 130

Siblings 153

The Hard Stuff 171

Who am I? 222

The Strains of Independence 230

Parenting from a Distance 242

Toolbox of Techniques 250

Getting Serious About Self-Care 258

Being an Effective Advocate 268

Supporting Families 275

Onward 286

Editorial Reviews

Sally writes with an honest and open approach using her own experiences of parenting traumatised teens in a heartfelt, at times funny, at times moving manner. Sally's experiences are clearly unique to her but I have no doubt that her insights, observations and ideas will be useful to others in similar positions. Parenting children and young people who have suffered early trauma is challenging and, as Sally reminds us, requires skills, knowledge and support greater than the average parent requires. It also requires doggedness, compassion, understanding and a sense of humour and realism. Sally's insightful book shows how to care for these vulnerable teens who, by no fault of their own, have had some of the most challenging starts to their lives.

Kevin Williams

Therapeutic parenting requires equal parts bravery, commitment, fierce love, and hope. Sally Donovan offers an authentic peek into the trial-by-fire reality of the teen years. With genuine compassion and insight, she gives strategies that will help sustain the flagging spirits of exhausted parents, so they can continue their heroic efforts to be the parents their children need them to be. It takes more than love. Read this landmark book.

Gayle H Swift

Sally pulls no punches in this insightful, compassionate and beautifully-written book. The honesty and sensitivity with which she describes the experiences of parenting teenagers who have experienced trauma will profoundly resonate with many. Compelling, validating, tough and yet uplifting, its authenticity is firmly rooted in experience. Parents/ carers - I strongly suggest you read this book as an exercise in the self-care that Sally so wisely advocates for. Professionals - this is a fantastic resource. I strongly recommend a read [or three]!

Rachel Staff