How can you contribute as much as possible to the lives teens? Connection with teens is the necessary element if we are to make a positive difference in their lives. But connecting with teens can be challenging. We can easily grow discouraged, frustrated, and indifferent. When we distance ourselves from teens, they lose. But teens win if we summon the courage to connect with them. In contrast to what you may believe, teens want to relate with you. This book is for educators, parents, physicians, and others, that want to strengthen their connection with teens. These 40 Reflections explore the conditions necessary for connection to take place. The most important, influential element for connection is you. Though your training, experience, and credentials may help, they are impotent in comparison to you as a unique, gifted individual. Only when we bring the fullness of who we are to our relationships with teens can we hope to make a positive contribution to their lives.
About the Author: Thanks for stopping by learn a little more about me. I'll make this brief: My passion is to translate research into relevant methods that courageous organizations can use to engage people with their message of health and wellness. The majority of my work has been in the fields of prevention and youth development. For more than a decade, I've been designing, developing, implementing, and testing innovative approaches throughout the United States that produce consistent, surprisingly immediate outcomes. As often as I am able, I record my demonstrations of these approaches and feature them on this website. (Subscribe to my email list to receive future notifications.) My work is deeply rooted in research and practice. In 2010, I wrote a book called, The Teen Age: 40 Reflections on relating with teens. In 2011, I wrote the e-book, Own It: How a single sheet of paper can transform how you engage people. I'm now working on my second full-length book I plan to make available in early 2012. Again, those on my mailing list will be first to know when the book is available. During the years on either side of Y2K, I attended graduate school at the University of Oregon's College of Education, started my own private counseling practice, and grew a little nonprofit into a national organization that reached more than 50,000 youth each year. Since 2005 I've traveled throughout the United States speaking at conferences, leading workshops, and consulting with organizations. I now focus on projects that keep me nearer to my family on the West Coast. Most days I help my children learn to play cello, roast my own coffee, and, on the best days, enjoy a few minutes of uninterrupted time to visit with my wife. On rare occasions, I'm able to pursue some of my favorite personal interests such as flyfishing, creative writing, and composing and performing music.