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*Number one on Cyrus Webb's list of "Books Every Man Should Read"Teenagers are left feeling unheard and misunderstood, and parents are left feeling bewildered by the changes in their child at adolescence and their sudden lack of effectiveness as parents. The parent has become unavailable, the teen responds in kind, and a negative, often destructive cycle of communication begins. Well, the truth of the matter is, you can physically be right next to someone and still not really be available to them. If you need them to be something they're not, if you are harsh, criticizing and judging, if your anxiety is center stage, then you are not truly available.The available parent of a teenager is open to discussion, offering advice and problem-solving, but not insisting on it. He allows his child to make some mistakes, setting limits, primarily where health and safety are concerned. He never lectures - he is available but not controlling. The available parent is self-aware, and keeps his own emotions in check when dealing with his teen. He is unconditionally loving and accepting, and open to new and different ways of thinking. As such, he is neither cruel nor dismissive, ever. The available parent is



About the Author

Dr. John Duffy

Dr. Duffy is a clinical psychologist, best-selling author, podcaster, and nationally-recognized parenting and relationship expert. He has been working in his clinical practice with individuals, couples, teens, and families for nearly twenty-five years. Dr. Duffy's refreshing and unique approach has provided the critical intervention and support needed to help thousands of individuals and families find their footing. Dr. Duffy is the author of the number one new release Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety (Mango, September 2019) , as well as the number-one best-selling The Available Parent (Viva Editions, second edition released 2014) .  He has been the regular parenting and relationship expert on Steve Harvey (with more than 75 appearances) , and appears several times a month on WGN radio. He also appears frequently on other national and local television and radio outlets, and is cited regularly in national print and online publications. These include the Today show, Fox News, Chicago Tribune, Fox Good Day Chicago, The Jam, WGN-TV, the Morning Blend, NPR, the Huffington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Redbook, Time, Good Housekeeping, Men's Health, Chicago Parent, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Wired, Parenting, YourTeen, Parents, Family Circle,  Chicago Sun Times, and Real Simple magazine, among many others. He is co-host of a popular podcast, better, with his wife Julie, as well as On Purpose with Chicago Tribune columnist Heidi Stevens. He is also a frequent guest on other parenting and self-help podcasts. He presents nationally on parenting and relationships.



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