Closing the Gap Between
Parents and Teens

Topic Presenter: Tammy Cox, LMSW

Want a closer, involved family?
Reconnect while your favorite teen will enjoying this Beautiful Boston White Mountain resort!

Most parents want to have a closer, more loving relationship and more fun with their teen children. While it may come as a surprise to many adults - and you cant usually tell it by their behavior - researchers tell us that most teens really want the same things!

Join Tammy Cox for one week as she guides you in gaining more understanding, acceptance, trust and closeness in your relationship with your teens. Parents will learn specific parenting techniques to help them attain these goals, and both parents and teens will learn communication skills to help close the gap. When parents and their teens return home, they will have

• a renewed sense of caring,
• a better understanding and appreciation of one another, and
• practical skills to keep the lines of communication open.

Parents and teens will be better equipped to continue creating rewarding relationships that work for all.

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Unfounded fears cause most
parent-child relationship problems.

Parents are afraid of failing at this most important job, and out of that fear they often end up doing and saying things which just makes matters worse. That fear becomes most profound when the children become teens. Parents often misinterpret a teens natural need for independence as rebellion, and become even more controlling.

The current media and many so-called experts often tell parents they cant be friends with their children and tell them to do many things which are disrespectful and intrusive. Those actions tend to cause an even bigger gap. Teens are often afraid their parents will never allow them to have independence and be in charge of their own lives, so they often rebel.

Helping families create relationships that are open, honest and respectful the kind of relationships that encourage closeness and cooperation.

The first step for parents will be to understand why the traditional carrot and stick approach to parenting is ineffective. With that awareness, parents will be motivated to learn more effective techniques designed to create closeness and cooperation with their teens. They will receive encouragement to work through any unfounded fears, and learn how to deal more effectively with real causes for concern. They will learn how to gain cooperation and earn respect without having to control or punish.

Teens will learn how to get more of what they want without having to rebel or misbehave. They will learn how to gain the independence and trust they need without manipulating or worrying their parents.

After learning more about why children misbehave, parents will be taught some valuable tools for dealing with problem behaviors that are effective and non-punitive. Both parents and their teens will learn to share their feelings and communicate in healthy, appropriate, and encouraging ways. They will also learn how to set and maintain healthy boundaries without building walls in their relationships.

A profound learning experience . . .

Because behavioral learning is more profound through experience, all of the presentations will include exercises, role plays, and guided visualizations. Participants will also be given a few fun and interesting assignments to work on during the off-times.

Tammy Cox, LMSW - Topic Presenter

Tammy Cox received her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas, and brings more than 25 years experience to her profession. Since 1988 she has been the owner and director of The Redirection Connection. She is an instructor and instructor trainer for the International Network for Children and Families, and a nationally certified instructor for Global Relationship Centers, Inc. She has served as consultant to families, schools, day care centers, special groups and professionals in the medical and legal arenas, as well as guest trainer for various agencies and organizations.

She also writes articles and regular columns for several publications and is a professional speaker.

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