I highly recommend this book. I have recommended it to several people and it has worked for them as well. I am using the techniques in the book, and to my amazement, they are working! I have read several other books and they tell you what to do, but don't tell you what to do if their idea doesn't work - this book has back up plans for everything. I found this book to be the best help we have found. If you follow the program, it will work. I was skeptical but they made a believer out of me.

I am a family therapist in Georgia. I give this book out to every family that comes into my office. This isn't about blaming parents. These are real tools parents can really use. I am also a parent of two teens. These tools have worked for me.

I have used this book and Dr. Sells suggestions with parents for five years. This book explains how problems develop with teens, practical suggestions on how to stop the problems and the book also covers the topic on how to heal and improve the relationships between parents and teens that are out of control. Parents: It is best to read the entire book before you start enforcing contracts with the teens.

Your teen is living in a storm of hormones and temptations. You have to be the rock in the storm. I have read all the popular books on problem teens and this one is the best by far. His advice on how to handle the seven aces is practical and works! It was my favorite part as previously I had no idea what to do.

I did not do the contract. I made a list of rules and consequences if the rules were broken. Re other reviews, I don't think there is anything Gestapo-like about laying down some rules. You aren't going to live in harmony with anyone who thinks that friendships and immediate gratification are more important than family and school.

My advice is, take the bull by the horns and buy this book.

If you want a tool belt that works this is the book for you. Dr. Sells provides a step-by-step approach to every possible problem you might encounter and what to do if Plan A doesn't work. He gives you a recipe menu of creative consequences to stop behaviors such as disrespect, running away, violence, drug and alcohol abuse, threats of suicide, and ditching school. The one reviewer who didn't like the book (dirtyh20sam) must have ignored Dr. Sells' warning that if you try to use contracts and it escalates your teen it means that you must seek and outside therapist for help because you either did not follow all the steps correctly or you have underlying family problems like marital conflict or depression that must be addressed. The book works but you have to follow the recommendations correctly.