When your teen daughter is sexually active

Award winning author and psychologist Michael Bradley, EdD, explains to parents how to handle situations with your teenager with then are sexually active at an early age. Bradley explains the risks and rewards, as well as how parents can constructively handle whatever comes their way.
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When your teen daughter is sexually active

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If you find that your daughter is having sex at an early age, you need to, again, calm yourself down, because this is a teaching moment not a control moment off the bat. Second, you need to understand that a teen brain is more motivated to go after a reward than to stop because of a risk; they understand risk, but they need the reward more. What does that mean here? She likely understands the risks of sexually transmitted diseases; by the way, recent study found that every fourth girl in an American high school has a sexually transmitted disease she does not know she has; so safe sex is not happening even though we do Sex Ed. They understand the risks; they go for the reward, so have that perception of your daughter. Please don't get into judgement, don't get into 'Oh my God, my daughter is a terrible person.' Understand, she is a girl growing up in a culture that highly sexualizes girls at incredibly early ages. She is reacting to what's around her. Find out what the reward is, what's the payoff for having all this risky sex - it's risky physically and psychologically, and see if you can help her find a reward in another way. Go for a reward, a payoff that outweighs the payoff of this dangerous behavior.

Award winning author and psychologist Michael Bradley, EdD, explains to parents how to handle situations with your teenager with then are sexually active at an early age. Bradley explains the risks and rewards, as well as how parents can constructively handle whatever comes their way.

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Michael J. Bradley, EdD

Psychologist, Author & Speaker

Michael J. Bradley, EdD, award-winning author, has counseled adolescents and their parents for over 30 years and currently has a private practice in suburban Philadelphia. As a recognized specialist in adolescent behavior and parenting, Dr. Bradley is in demand as a speaker and facilitator for mental health professionals, educators, and parenting groups. He has appeared on over 400 radio and television shows, including CNN, The Today Show and Good Morning, America, and has been interviewed by numerous magazines and newspapers such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Parents Magazine. His website forum is a great source of advice and encouragement to parents.

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