Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Description:

A Field Guide for Catholic Parents, Pastors, and Youth Leaders

Winner of a 2020 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers (second place, ministry); 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (second place, family life).

Do you struggle to know when or if it’s appropriate to step in to help a teen who seems stressed, anxious, or depressed? Do you know the signs to look for to determine whether a teen is in distress?

In Helping Teens with Stress, Anxiety, and Depression, Roy Petitfils—a Catholic author, speaker, and psychotherapist—offers his personal experience, advice, and faith to give parents, pastors, and youth leaders the knowledge, courage, and tools they need to step in, make a difference, and be the presence of Christ for teens in crisis.

Roy Petitfils knows what it’s like to be an addicted, depressed teenager, filled with self-loathing and desperate for help. He describes himself at high school graduation as by far the largest person in his hometown and yet feeling as though he were “stuck in Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak.” Weighing more than 500 pounds, he was addicted to food and hated himself.

Now a leading Catholic voice in youth advocacy and creator of the popular podcast Today’s Teenager, Petitfils entered adulthood a very different person than he is today. His life was radically changed by a handful of people in college who reached out in friendship and helped him set a new course.

Using personal life lessons and expertise gleaned from more than twenty-five years in youth ministry and private practice as a licensed counselor, Petitfils teaches parents, pastors, and youth leaders what they need to know about mental health issues among America’s youth. Whether teens need help coping with healthy levels of stress or face persistent, more serious problems with anxiety and depression, Petitfils will help the adults in their lives get comfortable with stepping in.

Petitfils offers information and advice on:

the major causes of stress and anxiety in teens today
differentiating healthy stress from toxic stress
simple steps to take after identifying a hurting kid, beginning with how to assess whether and how to step in
the art of listening
He explores the support and comfort available through the sacraments, Catholic devotions, different forms of prayer, and reading the Bible. Ultimately, Petitfils identifies how to gently, yet persuasively guide hurting young people to deeper trust in the tender mercies of God.

Click here to preview the Table of Content and to Read the Sample.

Features:

Serving the Catholic Community for Over 150 Years!

Ave Maria Press, established in 1865 by Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., Ave Maria Press remains committed to its core mission in more than 150 years. It began as the third apostolate of Holy Cross in the US and published "The Ave Maria" magazine by Fr. Sorin with three goals in mind: to glorify Mary, highlight Catholic families, and present the best American Catholic writing.

Ave Maria thrived for over 100 years and became the most popular Catholic magazine in the country. Under the leadership of Rev. Daniel E. Hudson, C.S.C., the magazine grew and started publishing hardcover books. Holy Cross religious, including priests, brothers, and sisters, played essential roles in the magazine's operation. After the magazine ceased publication in 1970, Ave Maria Press focused on book publishing and has since published works by notable Catholic authors.

Now owned by the United States Province of the Congregation of Holy Cross, Ave Maria Press remains one of the oldest Catholic publishing houses, specializing in religion textbooks, ministry resources, and books on prayer and spirituality.