Seminar Date: October 10, 2012

The Parent Network’s Fall 2012 free seminar series is under way and this week’s topic was “How to Launch a Young Adult.”  Richard B. Cohen LMFT, MAC, CCBT, CDVC, discussed the importance of adult children growing up and how many parents perform a disservice to their child when they don’t make them face tasks that this same adult child will eventually need to perform on their own.  For example if a person grows up without ever having learned to clean, do laundry or cook for themselves, how are they supposed to know how to do this on their own?  Richard stressed “care, not caretaking.”   Richard told the parents in attendance not to solve their kids problems but rather empower them by letting them figure it out on their own.  If your child gets parking tickets when using your car, don’t bail them out by paying them.  Doing so provides no consequence for the child to change their behavior.   Richard posed some interesting questions for the group such as “Who is responsible for the adult child’s life?  The parent or the child?  And at what age?” For parents who were not in attendance and are interested in attending this same seminar, Richard will be giving this lecture again on November 7^th, 2012 in the San Fernando Valley at our Encino facility located at 16501 Ventura Blvd Suite 104.  To RSVP please call 818-465-9985 ext 113.  

Seminar Date: April 11, 2012

This week's seminar was "The Parents' Relationship and the Successful Child" and presented by Richard B. Cohen, LMFT, MAC, CCBT, CDVC.  Richard spoke on how the way children feel about themselves can be directly related to manner in which their parents treat each other and parent together. Richard shared scenarios of different behaviors and their potential consequences.  If parents do not listen to each other then they risk the danger of raising a child that will not listen to others.  That is what the child is witnessing over and over again.  If the parents get violent with each other then their child may grow up thinking that this is acceptable behavior.  On the more positive side, Richard noted the benefits that can occur when either parent is able to do the same task with their child, rather than the child only going to one parent to complete tasks  Richard also gave advice for single parents and how important it is for parents who are apart to not bad mouth each other.  The parent may still be dealing with their feelings however this sort of behavior clearly does not benefit the child. 

Seminar Date: January 18, 2012

Dr. Philantha Kon, M.D., Ph.D. lectured last night on "Mood Disorders and the Use of Marijuana in Teens."  Dr. Kon presented a great deal of information and statistics regarding teen depression.  Dr. Kon discussed perceived barriers to care such as stigmas, myths and media perception.  Dr. Kon mentioned many of the harmful effects of THC on a growing brain.  She also shared that teen use of marijuana is a significant predictor of later depression as young adults.  Dr. Kon talked about the self-medicating aspect of marijuana use, and how using it can often be an attempt by the individual to fix other issues such as anxiety.  Yet by using marijuana, the person does not get to deal with the underlying issue.  In terms of parents protecting their children from marijuana, Dr. Kon stressed the importance of  monitoring and supervision.  D. Kon also said how important it is to set limits and be consistent with your parenting.  We have received multiple requests to for Dr. Kon to do this same seminar in Encino and will keep you posted on the date it occurs.