My work in schools has involved the 11-18 year old age range. If your child is struggling with some aspect of their social or emotional life, I am well versed in connecting with and assisting them. You can contact me here if you would like to discuss how I might be able to help your child.
If you are parenting a teen as an expat, there are some really good, accessible books to help you get a handle on their changing personalities. Most links are to a Kindle version at Amazon.com, often the easiest way to get hold of English books as an expat. I’m not affiliated in any way with any of these authors, but I have read their books.
Stories of third-culture kid survival. From adoption to transitioning to university, deciding to live abroad as an adult or not, healing from trauma, and developing roots in passport or host countries, these stories highlight the unique joys and challenges of a global life. Find the book
Another oldie – well, approaching 15 anyway. More research and advice for expat parents to take on board. Find the book
What you’ll find in Masterminds and Wingmen is critically important for every parent – or anyone who cares about boys – to know. Collaborating with a large team of middle- and high-school-age editors, Rosalind Wiseman has created an unprecedented guide to the life your boy is actually experiencing – his on-the-ground reality. Not only does Wiseman challenge you to examine your assumptions, she offers innovative coping strategies aimed at helping your boy develop a positive, authentic, and strong sense of self. Find the book
Filled with straightforward advice and written in their trademark, down-to-earth style sure to appeal to both parents and teens, this all-new volume offers both innovative, easy-to-implement suggestions and proven techniques to build the foundation for lasting relationships. From curfews and cliques to sex and drugs, it gives parents the tools to help their children safely navigate the often stormy years of adolescence. Find the book
Lisa Damour, Ph.D., director of the internationally renowned Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls, pulls back the curtain on the teenage years and shows why your daughter’s erratic and confusing behavior is actually healthy, necessary, and natural. Untangled explains what’s going on, prepares parents for what’s to come, and lets them know when it’s time to worry. Find the book
This is a great go-to reference book for boys’ development. From the New York Times bestselling co-author of Raising Cain, It’s a Boy! is the first major parenting book to chart every stage of a boy’s life. This upbeat, authoritative, and reassuring guide–written by psychologist Michael Thompson, Ph.D., a leading international expert on boys’ development, and journalist Teresa H. Barker–shows how a boy’s inner life progresses through infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Find the book
Written by a therapist, for therapists, this is still an accessible read. Looks at common characteristics of kids raised outside of their passport country. Find the book
This has been the TCK bible since forever. Ground-breaking study of this very special population. The challenges and rewards of growing up without traditional roots, influenced by three or more cultures. Find the book
Welcome to the wonderful world of your daughter’s adolescence. A world in which she comes to school one day to find that her friends have suddenly decided that she no longer belongs. Or she’s teased mercilessly for wearing the wrong outfit or having the wrong friend. Or branded with a reputation she can’t shake. Or pressured into conforming so she won’t be kicked out of the group. For better or worse, your daughter’s friendships are the key to enduring adolescence—as well as the biggest threat to her well-being. Find the book