How to Keep Your Teenager Out of Trouble and What to Do If You Can't.

This book reminds parents of the challenges and stresses teens may be experiencing, and how these pressures influence teen behavior. The book reinforces the parenting skills that are essential to raising teenagers and keeping them out of trouble, and it explains exactly how to address challenging, risky, defiant, and anti-social behaviors. The book forcuses on effective communication: how to avoid making threats and put-downs, offer clear explanations, stick with the issues at hand, negotiate successfully, and stop interrogating or lecturing. The author uses examples from his practice to explain specifically what to say and do, offering sample dialogue and showing how parents should talk so that teens will listen and listen so that teens will talk. (Author abstract)