Welcome to Teen Therapy Center. My name is Kent Toussaint. I'm the founder and clinical director.
We are a group private practice here in Woodland Hills, California. We are filled with therapists
who are fun loving, professional, warm, and we specialize in helping kids, teens and families
live happier lives. And we do that because we speak teenager and we speak parent. And we are often
the interpreter in between the two to help bridge those gaps to make sure that teenagers are
finally understanding parents, parents are understanding teenagers. And we're helping
develop greater communication, better empathy, healthier boundaries within the family.
But when we understand a kid or a teenager, we also have to understand what it's like to be a little
kid and a young adult and a parent. Because when you're a teenager, you're in this amazing transition
period where you got 1 foot as a kid and 1 foot in the adult world. And it's confusing and it's frustrating.
You know, I know we've been teenagers. Your teenagers
are going through it for their very first time. And so my job, or our job as therapists is to help
them go through that. We do that through individual therapy, family therapy, and sometimes
group therapy, depending on what your kids needs are. There are a variety of issues we deal with,
obviously. Self esteem issues, school motivation, anxiety, depression, attention issues,
autism spectrum, anyone who identifies multi, exceptional or two E. We work with those people
every day. Kids who are their families are going through divorces or even sometimes when they're
blending families together. Those can be very nuanced, complicated issues. And sometimes
having a therapist to help bridge the gap, help increase and develop better communication
is really helpful. Thanks for stopping by. Please check out our website. Give us a call. We're
happy to provide a complimentary phone consultation so you can ask all your questions. We can
provide you the answers so you feel comfortable choosing us. And
if somehow what you're asking for is outside of our scope, we're happy to provide you other resources
so you can find the referrals you need to get the help you need for you and your family. Thanks
again. My name is Kenta Tussant. This is Teen Therapy Center, and we look forward to talking
to you soon.
It’s pretty common for 13-year-olds to have little interest in politics, but yours might already be paying attention. Kids at this age are often just starting to notice how current events affect their lives, and they’ll likely model their reactions based on how they see you respond. That’s why it’s essential to set a calm, steady example when political issues come up.
It’s normal to feel emotions like anger, fear, or frustration in response to the world around us, but demonstrating resilience and a balanced perspective can help your child learn to handle these feelings constructively. The way you react can teach them how to stay grounded, even when topics get tense or polarizing.
If your child wants to talk about politics with friends or at school, here are a few pieces of advice to help them approach these conversations thoughtfully and respectfully:
Express Your Feelings, Not Judgments: Share your feelings and why certain issues or candidates matter to you, without making sweeping statements about the other side. For example, “I’m disappointed because I care deeply about [issue], and I’m concerned about how it will be impacted.”
Listen to Understand: Show interest in their perspective, even if you disagree. This helps to create a respectful environment where you both feel heard, and they may be more open to understanding your side too.
Find Common Ground: If possible, identify shared values or goals, even if you have different ideas about how to achieve them. For instance, “We both want a safe, prosperous future, but we might see different paths to get there.”
Acknowledge Complexities: Remind them (and yourself) that people vote for various reasons, and disappointment isn’t solely about one person or policy. Understanding this can help bridge divides.
Be Patient and Set Boundaries: If the conversation becomes too heated or unproductive, it’s okay to take a break or agree to disagree. Sometimes, the best conversations happen after both sides have had time to reflect.
Clinical Director Kent Toussaint answers your parenting questions every Wednesday at 12:00pm in our weekly segment Tips On Teens on Facebook Live. Have questions about parenting kids and teens? Send them to: TipsOnTeens@TeenTherapyCenter.com. We love to hear from you!
Head on over to our Facebook page every Wednesday at 12:00pm to watch LIVE! Check out our page here – https://www.facebook.com/TeenTherapyCenter/
If you have more questions or would like more information, please contact our Clinical Director, Kent Toussaint at 818.697.8555.