Understanding Middle School Behavior

More info... Since I have a 13-year-old daughter, I am always reading books to understand her behavior and improve mine with her. I just finished Not Much Just Chillin’ the hidden lives of middle schoolers by Linda Perlstein. Linda spent a year shadowing a group of kids in a suburban Maryland middle school. Her book offers insight on how middle school kids think, what is important to them and some brain development information that can tell us parents why they act the way they do. It doesn’t offer much in terms of how to deal with them on a daily basis but does provide insight in the hopes that we may be able to empathize with them between arguments. Laurie Freeman, LMFT (http://www.lauriebfreeman.com) is a licensed family therapist with a practice on the northside of Indianapolis, IN. She specializes in family and play therapy but also has extensive experience with couples and individual clients. Training includes a Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy from the Christian Theological Seminary Training Center in Indianapolis. Laurie has also received additional training in play therapy and participates in ongoing play therapy supervision. She has worked for 5 years at the CTS Counseling Center Clinic in addition to her more recent private practice. Other counseling experience includes 2 years of volunteer work as a Guardian Ad Litem for Child Advocates in Indianapolis. Laurie is a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapist and is a member of the Association for Play Therapy. She has also volunteered for several community events including a panel on guilt for the Greater Indianapolis Jewish Federation and a parenting panel for Hadassah. Counseling is a second career for Laurie. Prior to this training she has worked in sales and sales management for Prentice Hall College and Macmillan Computer publishing. This earlier career provided much life experience to add to her formalized training. Personally, Laurie is married and the mother of two teenaged children which additionally provides a wealth of practical experience. Laurie publishes a quarterly newsletter which may be accessed on this site and can provide information on areas of specialization as well as provide a sense of Laurie's style and counseling orientation. Bonnie and Elliot’s ten-year-old son, Justin, responds to all of their directives with an argument or complaint. They reason with him, trying to “get it into his head” that he needs to do what they ask. They attempt to counter his arguments with logic, but these efforts are repeatedly ineffective, and the arguments continue. The parents’ view of the problem: “He is argumentative and stubborn.” marriage and family therapy, individual consultation and coaching, pastoral psychotherapy, certified imago relationship therapist In the 35 years I have worked with clients, I've learned that our lives can change instantly. Sudden death, life threatening diagnosis, accidents, job loss, marriage, or divorce can shake us at our inner core. I also know that conflicts in relationships can be devastating and confusing. I strive to provide a safe, caring, compassionate and professional environment for you to work and find solutions. Feel free to call for a brief telephone consultation (no charge) to determine if I'm the right person to help you with your concerns. Membership: Indiana Oncology Social Workers; National Association of Social Workers. Life Coaching Share Your Opinion. (0 posts)

 

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