A guide to realizing if

your child is at-risk, displaying 

self-destructive behaviors, and

needs your help and intervention.

Abuse

Abuse:  Emotional

Abuse:  Neglect

Abuse:  Physical

Abuse:  Sexual

Abuse:  Teen Dating Violence

ADD/ADHD

Adolescence

Adolescence:  Middle Childhood

Adolescence:  Early Adolescence

Adolescence:  Middle Adolescence

Alcohol & Teen Drinking

Anger

Anxiety Disorders

Asperger Syndrome

Attachment Disorder

Behavior Problems

Bullying

Conduct Disorder

Counseling & Therapy

Depression

Eating Disorders

Emotional Health

Family Health

Grief

Healthy Eating & Good Food

I Love You Just The Way You Are

If Your Teen Begins to Fail in School

Inhalant Abuse: It's Deadly

Parenting Teens

Parenting Teens:  Connection, Monitoring, Autonomy

Parenting Teens:  Rules & Boundaries

Parenting Teens:  Enjoying the Teen Years

Parenting Your Adopted Teen

Peer Influence & Relationships

Permissive Parenting

Personality Disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress

School Violence

Self-Injury

Sexual Behaviors

Stress

Substance Abuse

Suicide

Violence

When Your Teen is in Trouble with the Law

Call Now!

1-866-620-1418

Call Now! 

1-866-620-1418

I would like to thank you and Focus Adolescent Services once again for your
ongoing cooperation with our research study.  The high number of website
visits and questionnaire participation demonstrates the importance of the
issue, and we thank you for enabling our study to reach your members.  -- Krestina Amon, Faculty of Health Sciences at The University of Sydney, Australia

Just wanted to let you know that I will be using your Personality Disorder description.  It nails down exactly what I wish to bring to a training of counselors within our community correction centers in the state of Pennsylvania.  We are incorporating a cognitive behavioral program at our community corrections centers building off of a program called "Thinking for a Change."  In my training design I believe it will be imperative for staff to have some understanding of personality disorders.  What I find curious about your information is that it is about personality disorders within the general population of our society; yet it provides a clear indication of some of the personality types we often encounter inside the prisons and within our centers.  Again, I thank you for allowing reproduction of your information and I will most definitely cite you as the source. -- Special Projects Coordinator, Bureau of Community Corrections, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections

I am a seventh grade school counselor and I thoroughly enjoy your site -- it is packed with USEFUL information, resources, etc.  I often recommend your site to many of our parents -- and teachers. . . your website is one of the most useful, informative, detailed, and helpful sites that I have visited . . . Thank you for all your hard work maintaining the website.   -- Guidance Counselor, J.E.J. Moore Middle School, Virginia

I just want to say thank you for your website.  I had the opportunity to Google search about adolescent cutting, and found a world of information on your site.  I'm extremely grateful for the information, and intend to spend more time using your resources.  Thank you again.  -- School Counselor, Akron, Ohio

I've been doing research on teenage violence and bullying when I found this site.  Recently, I became aware of the bullying situation in high school, but very, very sadly, it was my own son doing the bullying.  This site provided me with some great information.  My son is now having to do a research paper on bullying for "Mom" and this has provided valuable information.  Again, thank you !!!!!!!!!!!  -- Parent

I wanted to write to thank you for your website and all the wonderful information referenced on it.  Being the step-parent of an acting-out adolescent has been very difficult, and we have not been successful at gaining help from the school system or therapy, because nobody we talk to seems aware of how to deal with adolescent bad behavior and pathology.  Thank you for your help.  It's a great resource I will happily share with others in need. -- Parent

Your site is a wonderful resource for children, families, professionals and advocates!  I am truly amazed at your listing of resources. --  Project Coordinator, Washington County Community Partnership, Maryland

The article on Moms and Overweight Teens was so helpful.  It was exactly what I needed to hear.  My 14 year old daughter is 5 foot and weighs over 150 lbs.  On top of that, she dances competitively.  I ignored her weight until she turned 14 because I thought she would grow out of it.  But it had become a huge issue for us and I was really feeling panicky.  Thanks for helping me putting things in perspective and making me realize that the relationship with my daughter is more important than her weight. -- Parent

I wanted to thank you for your great website.   It is an excellent and very important site. . . Thank you again for your great site and for your excellent work.   You are awesome.  -- Kevin Caruso, Founder, Director, Editor-in-Chief, PreventSuicideNow.com

Your website is fantastic!  We are so happy that someone has finally taken on such a task and done so well at it!  We hope your efforts reach many, many people.  We plan to tell all of our group about your services.  -- New Hope of Greater Cincinnati [parent support network]

I would like to congratulate you on an excellent website!  I am so thrilled to see that someone is addressing adolescent behavioral problems without pushing medication to treat whatever the underlying problem(s) may be.

I would just like to thank you for being so kind to respond to my request for information about your organization.  We greatly appreciate you helping us to improve our Compassionate Ministries Organization.  Thank you again and God bless.  --  Ashland City United Methodist Church, Compassionate Ministries, Tennessee

Out of all the people I called and spoke to last evening about my daughter with self-mutilation/cutting, you were the most helpful.  I felt lucky to have you last night, it helped set me on the right course, and not make a poor decision.  She was okay last night, not too happy this morning when we went to her school to speak with her guidance counselor, social worker and school psychologist.  They gave me info also, but stuff you had already said and books I already ordered last night, but that's okay.  It's funny I have worked in Special Education for 20+ years.  I have seen much, learned much and have been lucky to work with a diverse group of other professionals, and yet I clearly missed my own daughter's cry for help .... Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. .... As soon as I make it through the next few days I promise to send in a donation, it's the least I can do.

I am a psychologist in Alberta, Canada.  I found your website and it is amazing.  Thank you for taking the time to put all of that information down on "cyber-paper."  I am teaching a course next week on Counseling Children and Adolescents and this website will be recommended to my students.

Greetings!  I just want to thank you for providing resources that my students at Rutgers University studying about atypical development in childhood and adolescents find to be extremely valuable. -- Maurice Elias, Ph.D., Vice-Chair of the Leadership Team of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning and co-author of A New Parenting Challenge for Challenging New Times: Raising Teenagers to Become Compassionate, Committed, Courageous Adults

Fantastic Site!  As a mom and as the President of the Family Law Association at the University of Baltimore School of Law, I am very impressed! -- Dawn Anderson

Your page "How is Your Child" really hit the nail on the head for me.  I actually just today put it all together that my child is out of control and crying out for help.  She has been charged with possession of a controlled substance, so is now involved with the juvenile justice program.  Your site has helped answer a lot of questions for me.

I am writing to tell you that I find your site very interesting and useful, and will be providing the URL as a resource to my students. They may be accessing it for study and research purposes. -- Teacher, Avon Maitland Distance Education Centre

I just wanted to say thanks for a fantastic website!  It is a wealth of information for parents of troubled teens (including me).

Thanks for the excellent website. -- James T. Neill, University of New Hampshire, Outdoor Education Research & Evaluation Center

Thank you for your assistance.  I feel that I am getting to the point where I need help in directing my child in making healthy decisions.  An angry adolescent is very trying.  Thanks again for the information!

We could not have found a residential program for our son without your help.  There is so much information on the web that we were confused about where to go and who to trust.  We're so glad our therapist recommended Focus to help us find a place where our son could get the help he needs.  Thank you and God bless.

I am an 8th Grade student doing a research project on Teen Alcohol.  I am writing you to say that your website really provided me with a lot of information that will further my learning on teenage drinking.

Thank you for caring.  -- Sharon Brodt, Parents Against Child Pornography

Thank you for having this information.  I am writing a paper on teen depression.   It has been hard to find information on the treatment side of teen depression.

I am a licensed clinical social worker in Atlanta, Georgia.  I find your site very helpful, in part because there are few coordinated sites in this area for adolescents/young adults.

Thank you so much for putting our information on your web-site.  It is always exciting to get our number out through new venues as this increases our possibility of getting info out to people who need it.  Your web-site provides a wonderful service for many people.  THANK YOU!  -- Oregon Partnership

Your website deserves an award.  I have found more information here than any other website.  My son has multiple problems all of which are addressed in this site.  Thank you so much for your help and keep up the good work for parents like us who desperately need a lifeline.

Thank you so much for creating this wonderful site.  I have found so much information that I desperately needed.  I have a 15 year old beautiful daughter who is in a crisis right now in her life.  I have found some wonderful resources to help her.  I also work with special education students and can now direct the parents to your site for help for them too.

I just wanted to thank you so much for all of the information you gave.  I found the information to be very helpful and it was perfect information for my project.  I truly appreciate all of your help. -- University of Maryland student

Thank you for information I received tonight.  I logged on due to learning of drug use with our sons.  I am logging off with needed knowledge.

You folks have put together a truly great site.  The structure and comprehensiveness is excellent.  The articles, links, and other resources are very helpful.  Thanks for including one of my sites in the "Suicide" subset.  Great job! -- Tony Salvatore, The Suicide Paradigm

LOVE your website . . . has helped tremendously!  --  School Psychologist, Fulton County Schools, Georgia

Just a note of thanks for your comprehensive and easy-to-search site re: self injury.  I am trying to educate myself as I have a 15-year-old niece who cuts herself.  She is in crisis treatment for the 3rd time and long-term treatment of some kind is being pursued.  I hope and pray we can find her the help she needs to cope with her feelings.  I am trying to help with educating myself and my family about SI and by finding information re: how families can help while also finding support for themselves in how to deal with this crisis.  Thank you again for the information.

I would like to thank you personally for adding "BECAUSE I LOVE YOU" to your directory.  Hoping for a long relationship and to be able to help parents around the country.  Many thanks again.  -- Jerry B. Goldman, President, B.I.L.Y. Parent Support Groups

I came upon your site and I am grateful to have found information which helped me understand that there are many in the world facing situations which could be like ours.

I can't tell you how much we appreciate your promotion of Highfields on your Michigan web site.  We have received many hits through your web page and have been able to help a few more people because of FocusAS.  Your site is very beneficial to those in need.   Thank you again for all the help you have been and continue to be. -- Highfields of Michigan

I am a single parent and don't quite know what else to do - have tried counseling, "tough love" tactics, etc. but I don't think I'm getting through.  Thank you for your help.

Focus Adolescent Services is a valuable site for North Carolina parents. -- Parents Advocating Vaccine Education

First and foremost let me thank you for your site.  I've been trying to gather information for a County Summit I'm holding to encourage underage drinking prevention.  The information on this website was phenomenal! -- Student at Woodstown High School, New Jersey

Thank you for your quick response and assistance.  I have gotten in touch with 2 organizations that you recommended.  Thank you again.

I am very impressed by the professional quality of the site and its richness in resources.

You have a great website.  I wish I had seen this ten years ago.  I have two  young adult children recovering from heroin addiction. --  President, Heroin Action Coalition of Carroll County, Maryland

This is a great site - thanks for all the hard work it must have taken to put it together.

I wanted to thank you for taking the time out to read my e-mail and send a response to me in such a short amount of time.   I really appreciate your help. -- David J. Ahn, Every Fifteen Minutes . . .

I want to thank you for such a comprehensive presentation of adolescent and family issues.  As a graduate student in the field of Marital Family Therapy-Clinical Art Therapy at LMU, the resources offered by this website are valuable.

Focus is a great family-related resource! -- Joshua Finer, Software4Parents

I am a student from the UK studying for a degree in cognitive science.  I am currently researching personality disorders and found your web site to be of great use.

I am currently counseling a young lady (22) who is a cutter.  I am not very familiar with this but the website has opened my eyes to many things.  Thank you for being here!

I am a licensed professional counselor in Northern Virginia and just found your web page full of valuable information.

I spent at least an hour talking with a Focus counselor on the phone.  Never has anyone been more helpful.  I found him to be kind, understanding, sympathetic, and highly knowledgeable.  Thank you.

Thanks for the help and your continuing good work. -- Don Porth, President, SOS FIRES: Youth Intervention Programs

Thank you for the information I acquired on your web-site.  I was diagnosed Bipolar three years ago, but never could find information that I could read and understand as well as yours.  I have sent my family and friends to your web-site, so they might learn my illness better and help me keep tabs on my moods.  Thank you so much for your information.

I am writing to you after reviewing your website.   I have learned a lot of interesting things in my search for help for my son and us as a family at Focus.

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the important work that you are doing. -- Denise Marhoefer, The Legal Defense Foundation, Losantville, Indiana

I am using your web site to do a report in my Psychology class.   Everything that I need is here!

Thank you for your guidance.  Your site has a lot of very good information with it.

Your website is wonderful!  I visited your web page and I was very impressed! -- Christine and the staff of the Monte Nido Treatment Center

I have just discovered your site and am very impressed. -- John Yonce, General Manager, Porter Sargent Publishers Inc.

We are especially impressed with your Directory of Family Help. -- K. Lynn Lewis, President and CEO, InspireUSA, Inc.

I would like to thank you for the wonderful and very informative web page on ecstasy.  Our 14-year-old son was asking me questions about the drug and I had NO idea what it was.   We learned a lot and would like to thank you immensely for sharing this knowledge.

Thanks so much again, it's good to know there are people like you out there to help when needed.

Read All The Books

The Shelter of Each Other:  Rebuilding Our Families

The Five Love Languages of Teenagers

The Way of the Wild Heart:  A Map for the Masculine Journey

Captivating:  Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul

Boundaries with Teens:  When To Say Yes, How To Say No

This book offers help in raising your teens to take responsibility for their actions, attitudes, and emotions, and shows parents how to bring control to an out-of-control family life, how to set limits and still be loving parents, how to define legitimate boundaries for the family, and how to instill in teens a godly character.  Visit Parenting Teens.
 

Parenting Your Adult Child

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families

Hiding from Love:  How To Change the Withdrawal Patterns That Isolate and Imprison You

How I Stayed Alive When My Brain Was Trying to Kill Me:  One Person's Guide to Suicide Prevention

The Scarred Soul:  Understanding and Ending Self-Inflicted Violence

How to Really Parent Your Teenager