As a parent who has experienced child to parent violence, I understand how difficult and overwhelming it can be to deal with an aggressive and abusive adolescent. Based on my personal experience, here are some recommendations that may be helpful for other parents in similar situations.
- Prioritize safety: The safety of all family members should be the top priority. If the adolescent’s behavior is physically or emotionally harming others, it’s important to develop a safety plan to protect those involved. This may involve temporarily separating family members or involving law enforcement if necessary.
- Seek professional help: It’s important to seek help from a mental health professional who specializes in working with aggressive and abusive adolescents. They can provide guidance and support for both the adolescent and the parents, as well as develop a treatment plan to address the underlying issues.
- Address underlying issues: Underlying mental health and substance use issues may be contributing to the adolescent’s behavior. It’s important to address these issues with the help of a mental health professional. This may involve therapy, medication management, or substance abuse treatment.
- Practice self-care: Dealing with an aggressive and abusive adolescent can be emotionally draining for parents. It’s important to prioritize self-care and seek support from friends, family, or a therapist to cope with the stress and emotions.
- Set clear boundaries and consequences: Setting clear boundaries and consequences is important for any situation involving aggressive and abusive behavior. This should be done in a calm and assertive manner. The consequences should be appropriate and consistent, and the adolescent should be made aware of them ahead of time.
- Develop a safety plan: A safety plan should be developed to protect all family members. This may involve temporarily separating family members or involving law enforcement if necessary.
- Practice positive reinforcement: Positive reinforcement can be a powerful tool in changing behavior. When the adolescent exhibits positive behaviors, such as showing respect or refraining from aggression, it’s important to acknowledge and reward these behaviors.
It’s important to remember that dealing with an aggressive and abusive adolescent is a challenging and complex issue. However, with the right support and resources, parents can take steps to ensure the safety of all family members and help the adolescent address the underlying issues contributing to their behavior.
If you need help dealing with your angry, aggressive child, and ensuring the safety of yourself and others in your home, we are here for you. We encourage you to go through our program to learn more about what you can do to help your child, yourself and the other members of your family. You can also contact us to schedule a private, one-on-one video or phone session with an experienced BTC coach or counselor. Never forget: you, as the parent, have the power to guide your family to a better way of living.
