Peek Inside

FREE Sample Handouts

Life is hard for teens, but it can become even more difficult when they experience serious challenges. Removing the adversity from a teen's life may be out of our control, but we can help them deal with these experiences and build on their natural talents, goodness, and strength.

This book highlights 20 tough experiences, and, using research evidence and practical experience, the authors provide information and strategies that you can use to help guide a teen through troubled times. In addition to practical advice, suggestions, and other tips for working with teens, each chapter also includes reproducible handouts, informational resources, and contact information for relevant organizations.

This resource will help educators, mentors, congregational leaders, counselors, and other youth-serving professionals find the tools they need to help young people with personal, familial, or social adversities. The book addresses specific crises, including youths who physically harm themselves, parents who are chemically dependent, abusive dating relationships, depression, and homelessness—and solutions are offered for managing them.

Jill Nelson, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the counseling program at North Dakota State University in Fargo. She coordinates the community counseling program and has been a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) since 1998. She has experience counseling children, teens, adults, and families. Her favorite people to work with are teens facing tough times, and most of her professional counseling experience is in working with teens in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She obtained her B.A. in psychology and German and her master's degree in counseling from the University of South Dakota. She received her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from Kent State University.

Sarah Kjos has spent the last twelve years working with children and adolescents facing tough experiences, first as a case manager and advocate for homeless families and youth in shelter and school-based settings, and now as a counselor at the Rape & Abuse Crisis Center of Fargo, providing individual and group counseling to child and adult survivors of sexual abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She obtained her undergraduate degree in sociology from Moorhead State University, and earned a master's degree in counseling from North Dakota State University. She lives in Moorhead, Minnesota, with her three favorite teachers: her daughters and husband.