PARENTING WORK

HOW WE CAN HELP

The Brandon Centre is offering a new service for parents who have difficulty controlling the behaviour of their teenage child (aged 12-16).

The Brandon Centre's Parenting Group is for the parents of teenagers (aged 12-16) who have difficulty controlling the behaviour of their teenage child.

A group of parents from up to six families meets weekly for six weeks with two practitioners certificated to deliver 'Parenting with Love and Limits: A Seven Step Programme For Difficult Teenagers'. Dr Scott Sells, founder of the Savannah Family Institute, developed the programme. The programme is practical and speaks to the needs of parents who are struggling with a teenager whose behaviour is out of control.

Following the group sessions, additional support will be available for parents to help to put into practice the lessons from the group.

Each session covers a different topic:

Session 1: Why your teenager misbehaves and the problems you are having with your teenager

Session 2: Understanding button pushing and learning how to remain calm and in control when being provoked by your teenager

Session 3: Why agreements with your teenager about her or his behaviour may not work and how to find extra support to back you up without taking your authority away as a parent

Session 4: A step by step guide for using contracts to set clear boundaries on your teenagers behaviour and developing a back up plan for when things might go wrong

Session 5: A menu of consequences for stopping extreme behaviour such as threats and acts of violence, truancy, and alcohol or drug abuse

Session 6: Restoring love between you and your teenager while remaining strong and sticking to your rules

Interested professionals can make referrals either be telephoning Joanna Brett on 020 7424 9935 or in writing to the Brandon Centre. Geoffrey Baruch or Charles Wells who will be running the groups would be pleased to respond to any enquiries. Parents interested in participating in the programme may also self-refer by telephoning Joanna on 020 424 9935.

You can also call into the Brandon Centre on 020 7267 4792 or e-mail familyservice@brandoncentre.org.uk to find out more about our parenting work.