Mike Linderman is a teen therapist unlike any other. A real-life cowboy, he wakes up at the crack of dawn, works the cattle on his ranch, and then counsels some of the country's most troubled teens, approaching them with a unique blend of down-home honesty, straight-talk discipline, and pure intention that is rarely found in a therapist's office. Most of the teens Mike treats are angry, abused, violent, and dangerous, yet despite their difficult pasts, he has achieved extraordinary success with them, helping to turn their lives around and earning him the nickname the "Teen Whisperer." In this book, he shares the secrets behind his success with parents everywhere, demonstrating how his regimen of hard work, integrity, and effective communication has turned seriously at-risk kids into loving, well-balanced, and productive teens. More than just a plan to rein in bad behavior, The Teen Whisperer deconstructs the emotional barriers that adolescence has placed between you and your child, helping you work with teens on their level—instead of simply treating them as subordinates. With this straightforward and open perspective, both you and your teen will learn to offer each other mutual respect and kindness, as you work together to heal the troubled hearts of your family.
Publishers Weekly Linderman, clinical director of Spring Creek Lodge Academy, an alternative school for at-risk kids, teams up with writer Brozek to share lessons learned from 10 years of success with troubled teens. His clients-described in a number of case studies-are extreme examples of kids who turn to alcohol, drugs or other high-risk behaviors, but their stories provide insight into the volatile nature of the teen psyche as well as the importance of solid family relationships. Linderman relies on a model of five primary needs that teens require: survival, freedom, power, belonging and fun. He guides readers through each, describing how teens can act out when a particular need is not appropriately met (e.g., a lack of belonging may lead to alcohol abuse in an effort to gain status with peers). Linderman counsels parents to stay connected to their teens' lives. (At times, however, Linderman's approach itself seems a bit extreme, as when he asks his own teenage daughter to hand over her cellphone so he can converse with her friend.) Along with Linderman's philosophy on dealing with teens, the book includes useful information on warning signs that may indicate such problems as depression or substance abuse. Parents will benefit from both the clinical and personal experiences of a man who respects teens and whom teens respect. (Oct.)
Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

The teen whisperer : how to break through the silence and secrecy of teenage life

Linderman, Mike, Brozek, Gary

William Morrow Paperbacks

HarperCollins Publishers

Longman Publishing

New York: Collins

1st paperback ed, New York, 2008, ©2007

United States, United States of America

New York, Enfield, 2008

Reprint, 2008

Originally published: 2007.
Includes bibliographical references (pages 291-296) and index.

xii, 302 pages : 21 cm
Offers advice for parents of troubled teens, discussing the five primary needs of teenagers and various acting out behaviors and including suggestions on communication and rules
Originally published: 2007
Includes bibliographical references (pages 291-296) and index
How to use this book -- Meet the teen whisperer -- You can call me Mr. Mike -- Understanding reality therapy -- The five primary needs of your teen -- Survival -- Fun -- Freedom -- Power -- Belonging -- When teens' needs aren't being met -- The emotional consequences of unmet needs -- Acting out behavior I: eating disorders, drinking, and drugs -- Acting out behavior II: violence and sex -- Acting out turns inward: depression and suicide -- Developing the right approach -- Having the right mindset -- Showing the right mindset through praise -- Communicating with your teen -- Talkin' the right talk -- Making the right set of rules -- Riding herd on your understanding -- Epilgoue

Focusing on the Five Primary Needs of Teens (Survival, Fun, Freedom, Power, and Belonging), this title demonstrates the importance each of these concepts plays in teen's family life and the negative impact that occurs when a family is incapable of fulfilling these Needs.

2023-06-28