A practical, realistic and easy-to-understand resource to help parents deal with out-of-control adolescents’ frustrating behaviors — behaviors that can leave even the most experienced parents “whipped.” It is written in everyday language, with humor and hope. Provides answers to help parents meet the challenge of raising an out-of-control teen. From the book— Out-of-control teens include those who are described by mental health professionals as being oppositional-defiant and conduct disordered. Oppositional-defiant kids are negative, defiant, disobedient and hostile toward authority figures. They lose their tempers, argue and refuse to comply with the requests of parents, teachers, therapists, even the local librarian. Any adult who tries to set a limit is fair game. This type of adolescent is often angry, resentful, spiteful and vindictive. They deliberately annoy people and blame others for their poor choices and negative behavior. Conduct disordered kids are all of the above and then some. They engage in severely dangerous and illegal behaviors. They are often the school bullies, threatening peers and adults. They fight, carry weapons and do drugs. They lie, steal, set fires and deliberately destroy other people’s property. They are often truant from school, stay out past curfew and run away from home, despite their parents’ efforts to stop them. These teens consistently and seriously violate the rules and laws of society. The Whipped Parent can help parents of oppositional-defiant and conduct disordered adolescents find ways to stay centered while dealing correctly with school and court authorities. The authors do not believe in using boot camps as a tool to “control” bad behavior. Includes appendixes, worksheets for parents, suggested reading and an index.
Kimberly Abraham, MSW, CSW and Marney Studaker-Cordner, MSW, CSW, are clinical therapists specializing in the treatment of behavior-disordered adolescents and their parents. Abraham and Studaker coined the term "the whipped parent," to describe the experience of exhausted, overwhelmed and disheartened parents who feel powerless in regard to their out-of-control adolescent. Combined, they have worked with children and families for more than 20 years. Their personal and professional experience in this area led to the development of a unique, highly effective set of interventions to be utilized with the most difficult populations clinicians see in practice today.
A Michigan county juvenile probate court regularly ordered conduct disordered juveniles and their parents to attend groups developed by Kim and Marney. In addition, both have parented adolescents, and Kim has herself survived raising an oppositional-defiant teenager. They have co-authored training modules for ASAP Parent and ASAP Adolescent Groups. Their presentations are well-received, with emphasis placed on their humor, style and expertise in this area.
