Adolescent violence can be perpetrated against mothers, fathers, siblings and carers by daughters and sons. There are many reasons why it occurs. These include children witnessing or experiencing family violence and repeating their fathers’ abusive and violent behaviours toward their mothers, parenting styles, adolescents’ reactions to traumatic events or conflict, adolescent mental health or drug and alcohol issues and other contributing factors. Sometimes there is no apparent reason why it happens.
This guide provides a resource for parents who experience violence from their adolescents. It helps parents identify violent behaviours, suggests strategies for dealing with adolescents and provides a contact list of services and agencies that can help parents deal with the traumatic situation they find themselves and their families experiencing. We hope it will help to increase the safety and wellbeing of parents and carers, and provide strategies to support them to parent their adolescents in ways that promote caring, responsibility and non-violence.
- Adolescent violence to parents
- Types of violence
- When to know if you have experienced violence
- Is your adolescent demonstrating violent behaviour?
- What you may be feeling
- Possible explanations
- Things to remember about violent behaviour
- Never think the violence is your fault
- Believe and trust your own feelings
- Talking about your adolescent’s behaviour
- What can you do if your adolescent is being violent?
- How can friends or relatives help?
- SEEK HELP!
- Time to make a change! Useful strategies.
- Regaining control and moving forward