Locals are being invited to find out how to solve the age-old question ‘How do I get my teenager to do what I want?’, at a ‘Talking to Teenagers’ workshop at Bath College on Saturday.
Karen Bray, who is a qualified mediator and assertiveness coach, is reaching out to parents who are clashing rather than communicating with their teenagers.
She will be advising parents to be “respectful but firm” to help build good relationships with their teenagers and prepare them for adult life.
The three-hour workshop will look at how to communicate with teenagers, avoid confrontation, value their thoughts and acknowledge their feelings, and help them cope with setbacks in life.
Karen said: “’How do I get my teenager to do what I want?’ is a very common question.
“The teenage years are a scary time for parents who can no longer supervise and control what their kids are up to or what they are thinking.
“There’s often a temptation to dismiss or ‘correct’ their views and feelings. The most important thing to learn is that accepting someone’s point of view doesn’t mean you are agreeing with them.
“And when we save ourselves the effort of trying to change what our teens think, feel, or want, we can stand up for our own values calmly and clearly.”
Karen has always been interested in how people can communicate constructively over their differences.
She qualified as a mediator six years ago and now focuses on improving communication between parents and teenagers.
Karen said: “The workshop will introduce skills for engaging co-operation, problem-solving when priorities clash, clarifying consequences and boundaries and dealing with difficult feelings.
“I will be looking at these in ways that build trust and respect between parents and their teenagers and support teens in developing responsibility and independence.”
The ‘Talking to Teenagers’ workshop costs £35 and takes place at City of Bath College on Saturday (November 29) from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Enrol online at www.citybathcoll.ac.uk for a 10% discount.
