Parenting your delinquent, defiant, or out-of-control teen : how to help your teen stay in school and out of trouble using an innovative multisystemic approach

"Patrick Duffy's book provides the kind of real-world guidance that is distinctly pragmatic and direct. While he clearly conveys empathy for parents of very troubled youth, he simultaneously reinforces the goal of striving for warmth and control as the critical element of the parent-child relationship. Duffy draws on both research and his considerable experience with this population of youth and their families. The breadth and diversity of the stories, strategies, and techniques contained in this volume should provide many parents with some of the tools they need to achieve a more positive relationship with their child, and find a sense of hope in sustaining it. While Duffy does not eschew professional guidance as needed, his focus is on helping parents gain confidence and skills in effectively managing their children's behavior. This is a significant resource for parents whose teens are on the edge of--or in--the red zone, and without effective intervention face terribly negative and cascading consequences."--Patrick J. Kanary, director at the Center for Innovative Practices at the Institute for the Study and Prevention of Violence at Kent State University "How terrific that Patrick M. Duffy has made available to parents the practical and effective strategies that have been developed through almost twenty years of research. With this readable and immediately useful handbook, a parent of a youth who has persistent problems with self-regulation and non-compliance will be able to access intervention strategies utilized in approaches like multisystemic therapy--the most comprehensively researched, evidence-based intervention for teenagers whose behaviors lead them down a pathway into the juvenile justice system. Parents and behavioral health clinicians can take the pragmatic ideas and straightforward practices currently only accessible to a small number of families and put them immediately into practice. More importantly, they will likely see positive results in the behavior of their teenager! Yes, it requires a parent to alter his or her current parenting style--not an easy task--but the outcome in terms of youth success and family harmony are well worth the effort."--Eric W. Trupin, PhD, professor and vice chairman at the University of Washington School of Medicine "This is such an important book! Patrick M. Duffy has translated research and clinical knowledge into workable steps to help parents turn behavior around at home before turning to professionals for help. This book empowers parents to have confidence in themselves and gives them the knowledge and tools to help their children by focusing on reestablishing a good parent/child relationship. The examples throughout the book will help parents recognize they are not alone in dealing with these problems. Every family service, school advisor, and family doctor should have a copy of this book--and encourage parents to read it!"--Bernadette Christensen is clinical director at The Norwegian Center for Child Behavioral Development and teaches in the psychology department at the University of Oslo, Norway "How terrific that Patrick M. Duffy has made available to parents the practical and effective strategies that have been developed through almost twenty years of research. With this readable and immediately useful handbook, a parent of a youth who has persistent problems with self-regulation and non-compliance will be able to access intervention strategies utilized in approaches like multisystemic therapy--the most comprehensively researched, evidence-based intervention for teenagers whose behaviors lead them down a pathway into the juvenile justice system. Parents and behavioral health clinicians can take the pragmatic ideas and straightforward practices currently only accessible to a small number of families and put them immediately into practice. More importantly, they will likely see positive results in the behavior of their teenager! Yes, it requires a parent to alter his or her current parenting style--not an easy task--but the outcome in terms of youth success and family harmony are well worth the effort." --Eric W. Trupin, PhD, professor and vice chairman at the University of Washington School of Medicine Read more...