Recognizing that today’s teenagers are faced with many challenges and stressors as they grow up, Olmsted Falls City Schools offered a special presentation for parents and teens entitled “Parenting Today’s Teens: How To Manage the Emotional Rollercoaster of Adolescence.” This 1-hour program was open to all parents and students in grades 7-12 and took place on Wednesday, November 30, 2005, at 7:00 p.m. in the Olmsted Falls High School Library.

“Parents and educators can hardly expect our students to excel academically and socially if we do not make an effort to address some of the issues they are faced with in the world today,” said Director of Pupil Services Dawn Wiant.

In an attempt to do just that, Olmsted Falls City Schools has arranged for this special evening event presented by Professional Clinical Counselor Marlene Kurz. Ms. Kurz from the Lakewood Hospital Teen Health Center, which is a part of the Cleveland Clinic Health System and provides a variety of health and social services uniquely focused toward young adults ages 12-19. Ms. Kurz specializes in group work and is currently running a weekly group for adolescents called GIFT – Group Individual Family Therapy. Prior to her counseling work, Ms. Kurz was a teacher with the Strongsville City Schools.

One area many teens struggle with is how to manage their emotions, both positive and negative. Their emotional responses very often tend to be to the extreme. For example, teenagers may respond to a minor upset or irritation by being completely devastated or enraged. Conversely, they may respond in almost a manic, elated way to an experience or situation that is considered positive. Additionally, teens will often cycle between the highs and lows frequently and rapidly, often within the same day.

“As a result of not knowing how to identify and handle these emotional responses, we have found that teens will sometimes engage in activities and behaviors that are self-destructive,” said Olmsted Falls School Psychologist Sherry Foulkes. 

The purpose of the presentation was to present information to both parents and their teenagers regarding the emotional development and needs of adolescents, as well as, to provide some suggestions on how to help teens deal with stress and manage their emotions in a positive, healthy way. More than 50 parents attended and found the open dialogue and opportunity to participate valuable.  A follow-up session is being discussed for the spring.