Practical Parenting A counselor's Guide to Raising the Difficult Child

About the Book

There are few things in the life of a parent more discouraging and draining than having to deal day in and day out with a disagreeable, disobedient child. Spending all of one’s emotional energy anticipating their next manipulative move, containing their embarrassing outbursts, and grasping for appropriate and effective consequences that fit their misdeeds is simply exhausting. Counselor Stephen Guthrie's book gives struggling parents the wisdom, insight, and skills needed to quickly gain control of their children and begin parenting effectively. The book is designed to be read in an evening and put to use the next morning. Drawing on his experience working with difficult kids, the author takes a parent “back to the basics” to explain, perhaps for the first time, the time-honored practical principles of parenting that will raise a cooperative, obedient child that is a source of joy and not disappointment. This engaging and informative book features a special section for Christian parents in which Biblical principles for raising children are presented and explained. Learn more about Stephen Guthrie and enjoy his blog at www.christian-counsel.com.

About the Author

Stephen Guthrie's working lifetime spans a full half century, including thirty years in management in the nuclear power industry in naval shipyards, public utilities, and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The other twenty years have been spent deeply involved in the lives of hurting and struggling people. Steve has always been involved with troubled kids and their families. He has served as a middle school teacher in an alternative education program for difficult teenagers, and operated a home for juvenile delinquent boys transitioning into family life and society following incarceration. Through the Americorps program he has served as an elementary school counselor dealing with at-risk youth. He has taken a number of children into his home to raise, and has three adopted kids of his own. Today he directs Christian Counseling Services in Charlevoix, Michigan (www.christian-counsel.com), where he works with children and families. Steve also travels Michigan presenting his anti-bullying program in schools. Steve has a BS in Management from Arizona State University and a Masters of Pastoral Ministry (Counseling) from Trinity Seminary, University of Liverpool. He is an ordained Christian minister who has served as pastor, chaplain, and in homeless and prison ministries. Steve lives at the end of a dirt road on a small lake in northern Michigan with his wife Ann, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and daughter Jenna.