sue saunders

Navigating the Teenage Years is a practical and accessible guide to the emotional health of teenagers and young adults. Written by a practising psychologist with over 25 years’ experience in personal development training and counselling, this book helps the reader to understand the biological and emotional changes that the teen is going through and how best to assist them in their transition to adulthood. Navigating the Teenage Years provides practical information on common emotional issues affecting teenagers such as anxiety, eating disorders, peer pressure and sexuality, as well as the practical strategies to tackle them. Topics covered include:

• Understanding the teenage brain
• Hormonal changes in boys and girls
• How to communicate with teens
• Friends and dating
• Bullying
• How to manage anger and anxiety
• Body image and eating disorders
• Addiction (food, drugs, technology)
• Internet safety
• Exercise
• School and study
• How to prepare for the future

Using the Human Givens approach, this book is written in an accessible, empathetic and pragmatic way. It outlines easy-to-follow strategies for parents and teenagers such as breathing techniques and the RIGAAR model of communication when dealing with emotional health issues. Diagrams and charts are used to illustrate psychological explanations while case studies are provided to offer both teenage and parental perspectives. While aimed primarily at parents, Navigating the Teenage Years will also prove useful to teenagers, student counsellors, healthcare professionals and psychologists.