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.
ADDICTION AND BAD DECISIONS
Nicotine addiction is notoriously difficult to quit, and it often leads adults to make irrational choices in pursuit of their next fix. Thus, you can imagine how hard it might be for your teen. Your teen may recognize that vaping is harmful, but the addictive nature of nicotine can overpower this awareness, leading them to continue despite the risks. It’s important to recognize that your teen is battling an addiction in addition to making bad decisions.
SETTING AND ENFORCING BOUNDARIES
If you decide to set boundaries around vaping, it’s crucial to consider whether you can enforce them effectively. If you impose restrictions or consequences for vaping, will you be able to follow through? More importantly, will enforcing these boundaries harm your relationship with your teen? The goal is to help your child, not push them away, so it’s essential to strike a balance between being firm and maintaining trust.
CREATING A PLAN FOR TESTING
If you opt to test your teen for nicotine use, it’s vital to have a clear and rational plan in place before the testing begins. This plan should outline specific repercussions if your teen tests positive for nicotine and should be developed when you’re calm and thinking clearly. The key is to follow this plan to the letter. Inconsistent enforcement can lead to regretful actions and undermine the entire process.
However, it’s equally important to have a plan in place for when your teen tests clean. If you’re prepared to take away privileges for testing positive, how will you celebrate your teen’s progress if they test negative? Positive reinforcement can be a powerful motivator, so be sure to recognize and reward their efforts to quit.
PUNISHMENTS AND THEIR IMPACT
If you decide to implement punishments, such as taking away the car or other privileges, it’s important to consider whether these actions will damage your relationship with your teen. Punishments can be effective if they are reasonable and enforceable without alienating your child. If you believe you can enforce them without causing lasting harm to your relationship, then they may be a viable option.
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR TEEN’S WILLINGNESS
Ultimately, your teen has to want to stop vaping. If they’re not motivated to quit, it’s going to be an uphill battle. This is where open communication becomes crucial. Have a conversation with your teen to help them understand why they feel the urge to vape. Building a relationship where your teen feels comfortable talking to you about their struggles is paramount. The more they feel supported and understood, the more likely they are to make the decision to quit on their own.
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.