By Heike Jung
As you look at your adolescent son or daughter, do you often wonder: "What is he/she thinking?" or "Who is this child?" Does it seem as if your carefree, loving and trusting child is turning into a withdrawn, skeptical individual and, sometimes, rebellious human being? Are you even afraid that your child might be depressed, taking drugs or hanging out with the wrong crowd? Does school work seem to have been put on the "back burner"?
The Teen Brain, like its body, is not fully grown up yet. As Frances Jensen, a Harvard expert on epilepsy, explains in her article, "The Teen Brain: It's just not Grown Up Yet", scientist used to think human brain development was complete by age 10. But that is not true. For one thing, the frontal lobes, the part of the brain that is in charge of making decisions based on consequences, are not fully connected until the mid 20s. This lack of connectivity explains why teenagers often seem self-centered and incapable of thinking about the effects of their behavior on other people. It's not that teenagers don't think, they just think differently, and their behavior can be frustrating at times, even to the point where you, as a parent, feel helpless and wish for outside objective support.
That's where Teen Life Coaching can be of help. The teen brain will evolve. How it will evolve is influenced by natural as well as social influences. You are aware of the social side effects. That's why you try to influence your teenager's circle of friends, the parties they go to, the educational trips they take, the classes they attend and the sports they participate in. As you know, "it takes a village to raise a child".
Research has shown that teens who have at least three adult role models, apart from their parents, are significantly less likely to engage in risky behavior. A Life Coach is another role model; a mentor; a person who takes a genuine interest in your teen's challenges and dreams; a person who can relate; who can weed through the jungle of problems, emotions and waterfall of words; who can re-arrange the thoughts to form coherent goals; who can help turn dreams into reality and create a toolbox of life skills for your teenager to use.
A Life Coach is not a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or counselor. A Life Coach is a mentor, a guide, a support system. Coaches work towards future goals. Helping and supporting your teenagers to find out how they can get from where they are now to where they want to be while overcoming any negative or limiting beliefs!
Dr. Heike Jung is the President and Founder of DBLCoaching, a Teen and Young Adult Life Coaching program that inspires, motivates, encourages and supports teens and young adults to turn their dreams into reality. Dr. Jung is best known for her powerfully written Personal Vision Reports which she individually develops and constructs for her clients. She is dedicated and committed to her young audience and strongly believes that personal fulfillment and success can be achieved through an intense Desire for, a firm Belief in, and a determined Love for your dream.
As you look at your adolescent son or daughter, do you often wonder: "What is he/she thinking?" or "Who is this child?" Does it seem as if your carefree, loving and trusting child is turning into a withdrawn, skeptical individual and, sometimes, rebellious human being? Are you even afraid that your child might be depressed, taking drugs or hanging out with the wrong crowd? Does school work seem to have been put on the "back burner"?
The Teen Brain, like its body, is not fully grown up yet. As Frances Jensen, a Harvard expert on epilepsy, explains in her article, "The Teen Brain: It's just not Grown Up Yet", scientist used to think human brain development was complete by age 10. But that is not true. For one thing, the frontal lobes, the part of the brain that is in charge of making decisions based on consequences, are not fully connected until the mid 20s. This lack of connectivity explains why teenagers often seem self-centered and incapable of thinking about the effects of their behavior on other people. It's not that teenagers don't think, they just think differently, and their behavior can be frustrating at times, even to the point where you, as a parent, feel helpless and wish for outside objective support.
That's where Teen Life Coaching can be of help. The teen brain will evolve. How it will evolve is influenced by natural as well as social influences. You are aware of the social side effects. That's why you try to influence your teenager's circle of friends, the parties they go to, the educational trips they take, the classes they attend and the sports they participate in. As you know, "it takes a village to raise a child".
Research has shown that teens who have at least three adult role models, apart from their parents, are significantly less likely to engage in risky behavior. A Life Coach is another role model; a mentor; a person who takes a genuine interest in your teen's challenges and dreams; a person who can relate; who can weed through the jungle of problems, emotions and waterfall of words; who can re-arrange the thoughts to form coherent goals; who can help turn dreams into reality and create a toolbox of life skills for your teenager to use.
A Life Coach is not a psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist, or counselor. A Life Coach is a mentor, a guide, a support system. Coaches work towards future goals. Helping and supporting your teenagers to find out how they can get from where they are now to where they want to be while overcoming any negative or limiting beliefs!
Dr. Heike Jung is the President and Founder of DBLCoaching, a Teen and Young Adult Life Coaching program that inspires, motivates, encourages and supports teens and young adults to turn their dreams into reality. Dr. Jung is best known for her powerfully written Personal Vision Reports which she individually develops and constructs for her clients. She is dedicated and committed to her young audience and strongly believes that personal fulfillment and success can be achieved through an intense Desire for, a firm Belief in, and a determined Love for your dream.
Post a Comment