Single Parenting and Difficult Behaviour:

An Introduction to Story Image Tools©

By Toula Gordillo –Clinical Psychologist

An Introduction…

What we all want – happy,

resilient, flourishing

young individuals!!

How do we get it…

‘Talk to teens’ through stories!

(if we don’t, we could get “ the dragon ”

Challenges of Single Parents

Kids don’t want to listen Too tired to work through issues Not enough extended family support Not enough time to do everything Can never get ‘a break’ Financial problems “My kids hate me!” Being a single parent is tough…

Single parents, in particular, need extra strategies.

Single parents need to “talk to teens” through

stories…

Key to Understanding Behaviour – Frog and Scorpion

An example of Frog and Scorpion …AWOL & ANOL

AWOL (Adolescents Without Limits) – No limits to behavior ANOL (Adolescents With Narrow/Negative Opinions in Life) – Narrow and

negative views of how the world “should” be.

SOMETIMES FROGS ACT LIKE SCORPIONS AND SOMETIMES SCORPIONS ACT LIKE FROGS

I_________________________________I_________________________I_________I0% 50% 80% 100%

AWOL ‘The Balance’ ANOLScorpion Frog

Don’t care enough – Care too much - Need to care more Need to care less LEVEL OF CARING!

What happens to a Frog who has been stung? It comes out fighting (stinging!!)

How to Use Story Image Tools© with your child

Introduce them to the story (digital or written) i.e., song, written book, request for feedback, ‘friend’, left on table…

Discuss story with young person Help them to identify with parts/characters in the

story and relate to their own situation – BE SUBTLE and ASK QUESTIONS

Remember - “each person, regardless of age or circumstance, has a story”. You have a story and so does your child/youth.

What’s your story? What’s their story?

Questions?

Think About :

a) Is Your Child A Frog or a Scorpion? b) Are they AWOL or ANOL?b) Is Your Child A Frog that has developed a sting? (hurt

others) A Scorpion that has learned to swim? (pretend to care to get needs met)c) Does your child know how to get “The Balance of 80”? Do

you?d) What is your story i.e., Are you a Frog or a Scorpion? How

does being a single parent impact on you?