A Teen's Perspective

Love this podcast and I know you personally so ya

I live in the AUSTIN area and have a teenage son with ADHD and other mental health issues. I contacted Dr RJ's team to ask them what Dr RJ's qualifications were, and how they would approach an nerodiverse teenager who is twice exceptional. I believe our kids and teens, our teachers and parents have been failed by a systemically broken school system, especially when it comes to under served populations. I also see a lot of people trying to make a buck off our teens in crisis and I hope he’s not one of those individuals. I workin the public school system and see it happening to our children. I believe that a VALID diagnosis is NOT AN EXCUSE, it IS an explanation. Unfortunately, I was unable to get any answers from his team at all. They handled me like sales agents. I was asking valid questions about Dr. RJ and his qualifications as due diligence, like any informed parent. I am not slandering him or judging the effectiveness of his program. I just wanted to know his qualifications and his approach to “coaching” within his personal and organizational belief system. I wanted to hear from him one on one and he should be able and proud to answer a few questions if his system is so successful. I don’t subscribe to what he calls, gentle parenting, nor am I a parent who believes in authoritarianism and reactive punishment. . I am a parent who believes in science. I agree with some of what he says, however I don’t know if his confidence is warranted. He says he’s coached more teenagers than anyone in the country but how effective was he and what were the methods and statistical outcomes? Why is this podcast called a teen‘s perspective when I haven’t heard any teens on the program? I will say I have not listened to every episode. I want to know if he believes in parent training. I think that parent training is crucial, especially when you have a teenager with serious issues. Another major problem I have is that coaching might be great.. unfortunately, coaching is not covered by insurance and Medicaid would laugh at the idea of coverage for coaching . One would think that Dr RJ would understand that our teenagers of color and those with learning differences are THE ONES THAT ARE MOST critically in need of help! These under served and forgotten populations,are those who are likely to come from a lower socioeconomic background! I am so tired of the rich kids With problems being the only ones who can afford help. I am a single mother and I have a immersed myself into coaching son, but I can only do so much as a parent. Is his expensive program perpetuating this coaching model of only the rich deserve to be helped? I don’t know him, and I don’t know his background. I know what I’ve heard from a few episodes. I know what his staff has said to me on the phone was unhelpful. I can tell he is extremely confident with himself and I can see where many teenagers would be put off by that, because I work with teenagers. I would like to actually speak to him, without having to pay for it; I could see if he was a good fit for our situation. Apparently,he is not even able to do that because I can’t pay for it. I don’t think that people should have to pay for things without asking simple questions related to the expert and the personal situation that they would be coming into., any provider in our broken healthcare system would at least be able to give you that for free. I think Dr RJ should be able to do so as well.

Since listening to Dr. RJ and applying techniques he teaches has really helped us improve our relationship with our 14 year old daughter. Dr RJ just gets it!

Thank you Dr. RJ for the parenting encouragement and leadership to teens! Integrity, humble leadership and positivity are three ways I would describe your teaching!