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Today’s Teenager — Kids & Family
Today’s Teenager

For more than 20 years Roy Petitfils, LPC has worked with teenagers as an educator, youth minister and today as a counselor in private practice specializing in adolescent and family therapy. He offers insight to help you understand today’s teens with practical tips, tools and strategies to help you communicate with, discipline and positively influence the teens in your life.

Latest Episodes:

036: Roy Talks With Catholic Educator And Author, Jared Dees Oct 10, 2016

Show notes

Roy welcomes Catholic educator and author Jared Dees to Today's Teenager to discuss a variety of topics, including Jared's thoughts on how to effectively reach teens as a Catholic educator, the adults who influenced his own development, and what resources he recommends for Catholic educators. Jared is digital publishing specialist at Ave Maria Press and creator of the popular website, The Religion Teacher. The Religion Teacher provides practical resources and effective teaching strategies to religious educators. Jared holds master's degrees in education and theology from Notre Dame and has taught in Catholic schools and parish religious education programs. His articles have appeared in various Catholic educational magazines and websites. Jared is the author of 31 Days to Becoming a Better Religious Educator and lives in South Bend, Indiana, with his wife and three children. Click here for Jared's blog and other resources he's created for Catholic educators and ministers.

035: Understanding Teen Self-Injurious Behavior, Part 2 Oct 04, 2016

Show notes

In this second episode on teen self-injurious behavior, Roy explains the severity of such behavior and why parents and others who work with teens should not ignore it. Roy offers anecdotes from his work with teens that illustrates how important it is to seek professional help for teens who are hurting themselves and strategies that parents and adults can use to broach the subject with teens.

To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

034: Understanding Teen Self-Injurious Behavior, Part 1 Sep 30, 2016

Show notes

Roy addresses a serious affliction facing many teens today: self-injurious behavior. In this first of a two-part discussion of what is often known as "cutting," Roy explains the root causes of self-injurious behavior and why these actions are taken by young people. Roy discusses the various names and methods teens use to injure themselves, the affect these actions have on the brain, what teens are getting from self-injurious behavior, and finally, how parents and other adults can address this issue with the young people in their lives. To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

033: Is My Teen Missing Out? Sep 28, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Roy discusses the fear that parents have about their teens missing out on experiences or opportunities that other teens may have. Roy explains that the number one mental health concern for teens today is anxiety, caused by the stress of being too busy. More importantly, young people are moving from experience to experience without learning how to pause and reflect upon the significance of those experiences and how they relate to their own personal development. Roy suggests that adults can help teens to reflect by providing opportunities for relational connection and intimacy that avoids the distractions of our modern lives and instead allows families to explore the meaning of past events and their significance.

To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

032: Parenting Through Fear Sep 23, 2016

Show notes

This week, Roy breaks down three of the biggest parenting fears he hears about from other parents and experiences in his own parenting. These fears, Roy says, are those that are not frequently discussed directly among other adults. Fears of our children missing out, rejection by other parents, and judgment from other parents often lead some parents to isolate themselves and burden themselves with heavy and unhealthy shame. Roy stresses the importance of moving past through denial by naming and addressing the fears that a parent faces as they navigate the treacherous waters of their children's teenage years. To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

031: The Gift Of Your Time Sep 16, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Roy addresses the need that teens have for attention from and the mindful presence of the adults in their lives. Roy shares his own experiences of feeling invisible and unnoticed as a teen and how that has informed his awareness of the dynamics of positive and negative attention in a teen's relationship with the adults in their lives. Roy offers three methods that can help adults be more aware, attentive, and present to the teens in their lives, with a focus on the importance of careful listening to ministering to and loving young people. To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling

030: Parenting From The Inside Out Part 2 Sep 09, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Roy continues to explore the concept of "parenting from the inside out," which means parenting from a less utilitarian and more introspective place. Roy expands on this idea by illustrating how adults can begin to see not only what they can do for their children but what the gift and journey of parenting can do for their own personal development and relationship with God. Roy explains that this perspective can enlighten those tough times in parenting, especially those involving difficult issues like gender identity and sexuality.

To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling.

029: Parenting From The Inside Out Sep 06, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Roy explores what he calls "parenting from the inside out," a philosophy which means approaching parenting with mindfulness and intent, reflecting on what motivates our actions, reactions, behaviors, and values as parents. Roy says parents can come to learn how God is working on them as adults through their own experience of parenting, and that God may be using parenting as a way of healing and transforming the parent instead of the child. Roy also shares examples of this philosophy through examples from his parenthood and childhood.

To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling.

028: Interview with Chris Padgett Aug 29, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Roy talks with Catholic musician, speaker, and author Chris Padgett. Chris uses storytelling, comedy, and music to bring his unique take on the Gospel to an international audience. Chris has written six books on a variety of topics, including marriage, the Eucharist, and Marian spirituality. Chris is also an accomplished musician with a number of albums to his credit. Roy and Chris discuss a range of topics, including how Chris' experiences as a teen influence his ministry today, current trends among young people and in youth ministry, and Chris' message for adults who work with teens. Click here for more about Chris, including photos of his 9 - sided home mentioned in this episode, links to his books and albums, contact information, and more. To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling.

027: What's Your Kid's "One Thing?" Aug 23, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Roy explores how the concept of "the one thing" can enhance working with teens and other young people. The notion of "the one thing" suggests that success can be found by applying greater focus and direction towards a singular goal or aspect of a person's life. This idea has circulated in the popular consciousness for some time, including books on business and success like Gary Keller's "The One Thing." Roy encourages adults who interact with teens to devote themselves to learning what a teen's greatest need or "one thing is" through mindfulness, attention, and presence. Roy then suggests Gary Chapman's "Five Love Languages" ( Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, and Quality Time) can be powerful tools for engaging, loving, and serving teens by recognizing and fulfilling their various needs. To get Roy's newest ebook "Little Book of Questions that Really Get Teens Talking" go to todaysteenager.com and sign up or email Roy at roy@todaysteenager.com.

Today's Teenager podcast is produced for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to nor should it be used as a replacement for professional counseling.

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