Is worry getting in the way of you letting your teen grow up?

Are frequent fights and arguments contributing to feelings of anger and hurt, and causing separation between you and your teen?

Are you and your teen feeling as close as you want to feel?

Parenting teens with greater joy and ease is possible.

Sometimes the stress of life gets in the way of relating well with our teens. Communicating with them in the ways that we prefer may seem just beyond our reach. You know the scenario:

You ask them how their day went and they shrug their shoulders. You ask if they have any homework and they roll their eyes. Later, they ask you if they can go out on Friday night, but you notice that they haven't completed their chores. You've got to finish a final draft for a presentation at work the next day, and you don't have time for this. The situation gets more heated, and one or the both of you begin to yell, and before you know it your teen is slamming their bedroom door and you're feeling frustrated and hopeless.

With so many pressures (i.e. work, finances, caring for aging parents, monitoring our own health, and concern about the state of the world), many mothers, and fathers alike, have found it increasingly difficult to bridge the gap with their teens. Having time for relaxation, let alone fun with the family, may be a foreign concept. The pressure can feel suffocating. Breathe...

Finding ways to breathe, both literally and physically can be enormously helpful, not to mention: we need the oxygen. Meditation, laughter, yoga, exercise, nature, praying, crying. It can all help. It can also help to talk with a professional.

Ask yourself what would it take to change things around. It is possible to have the kind of loving relationship with your teen that you have always wanted. The power of intention, commitment and openness to learning can go a long way towards creating the relationship that you are seeking. Chances are, you have had some beautiful experiences with your teen. I want to explore with you how you can make that way of relating more sustainable. I want to know what you've tried before and how I can help right now.

I am married, and a mother of two children, an adolescent and a toddler. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and I love helping people find answers. More than that, I love witnessing the beauty of harmonious relationships. I specialize in helping parents and teens get along better through experiences of intimacy. I do this by creating a space where parents and teens really hear each other, and by helping each person to honor greatness in the other. I would love to have the opportunity to help you and your family.

In addition to working with parents and teens, I work with couples who are struggling [with a specific interest in interracial couples], individual adults, and children.

For an appointment, contact DeVera Jackson-Garber at 310-415-4035. Office located at 2730 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 250, Santa Monica, CA 90403.