A book to regain Calm and Balance 

A Mindful Teen exposes the tremendous chronic stress under which our teenagers now labor. The teen years have always been stressful – a time of rapid development of the mind and body, constant downward pressure on self-esteem, and emergence of the negativity bias we all experience as adolescents and adults. Adolescence brings growing difficulty to be fully aware of the present moment due to over-thinking of the past, that brings shame and regret, as well as the future, which generates fear and anxiety. Added to these age-old phenomena is the newer stressor of social media that provides teens with an endless exposure to judgment by others that is often harsh and upsetting. How are our precious teens to deal with this stress? How can we, as parents, teachers, counselors, and friends support them?  

Each chapter of A Mindful Teen addresses the challenges that teens now face and points to ways in which the underlying stressors and their symptoms can be diminished. The approaches that are highlighted consistently are in keeping with the GAIN principles previously described by Dr. Hammer in his book, “GAIN Without Pain: The Happiness Handbook for Health Care Professionals.” This begins with a narrative on compassion, forgiveness, and lovingkindness. These essential ingredients for happiness for all of us are too often obscured by the accelerated “point-and-click” pace of high school and beyond. The chapters that follow underscore the challenges that teens face amidst a culture of multi-tasking and evolving social norms. The role of mindfulness teaching and practice during the adolescent years is explored, including the GAIN approach, emphasizing Gratitude, Acceptance, Intention, and Nonjudgment. 

The book capitalizes on Dr. Rettger’s years of experience studying and teaching a mindfulness-based approach for teens. The roles and responsibilities of parents and teachers are explored. This include a discussion of various styles of parenting, the articulation of which points to ways to improve relationships through understanding, empathy, and healthy attachment. The essential threads outlined in each chapter are tied together toward the end of the book, leaving with the reader tools that are both pragmatic and optimistic.  

The power of A Mindful Teen lies in the simplicity of its messages. There is good news herein – we can all learn to be more mindful and more aware of our present experience and thereby become happier and more fulfilled as individuals, parents, and teachers. In the wake of the profound stress imposed upon all of us by the global COVID pandemic, these practical lessons could not be more timely.