What do you think?
Rate this book
Talking with Your Teen about Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics
Are you looking for the right words—and a boost of confidence—to build trust, reduce shame, and have an ongoing and compassionate conversation with your teen about sex, one that also reinforces Catholic values?
In Talking with Your Teen About Sex, clinical psychologist Julia Sadusky answers most commonly asked questions and offers practical advice on addressing puberty, dating, intimacy, technology, pornography, and other experiences your child may navigate in their teen years and beyond.
Let’s face if you don’t proactively talk with your kids about sexuality-related experiences before puberty, they will likely learn from their friends, social media, or other sources that might not share your Christian values.
Intentionally setting aside time and focus to discuss these critical facets of human sexuality will become some of the most important minutes of your life as a parent. As you listen to what your teen knows and thinks about critical and hot-button topics and discover what you love most about their curiosities and individuality, you will both foster a deeper connection as you explore their belovedness as children of God.
Informed by the latest clinical research and drawing on the same guiding principles as Sadusky’s first book, Start Talking to Your Kids about Sex—which focuses on elementary-age children—Talking with Your Teen about Sex helps equip parents to be primary educators as teens move through adolescence. Guided by Catholic teaching, this book, intended for ages ten and up, goes beyond the typical “sex talk.” It will equip you to confidently communicate with your child about topics such as bodily changes, physical boundaries, sexual ethics, and masturbation with greater comfort. You’ll find concrete advice and ready-to-go conversation starters for your biggest questions, including
Why am I having such a hard time starting the conversation? What is happening to my child’s body? How do I actually have the sex talk? How do I respond to crushes and dating? What if they tell me something bad happened to them? Sadusky gives specific attention to the ways in which boys and girls experience puberty and sexuality differently. The sexual and pubescent development of each sex is addressed individually throughout the book, and in some cases, separate chapters are designated for discussions with boys and others for discussions with girls.
Finally, Sadusky will challenge you in ways that might feel uncomfortable at times. She also will encourage you to consider your own ideas about sex and to reflect on areas of shame you may carry.
This book is for any Catholic parent and other adults entrusted with the formation of preteens and teens.
In Talking with Your Teen About Sex, clinical psychologist Julia Sadusky answers most commonly asked questions and offers practical advice on addressing puberty, dating, intimacy, technology, pornography, and other experiences your child may navigate in their teen years and beyond.
Let’s face if you don’t proactively talk with your kids about sexuality-related experiences before puberty, they will likely learn from their friends, social media, or other sources that might not share your Christian values.
Intentionally setting aside time and focus to discuss these critical facets of human sexuality will become some of the most important minutes of your life as a parent. As you listen to what your teen knows and thinks about critical and hot-button topics and discover what you love most about their curiosities and individuality, you will both foster a deeper connection as you explore their belovedness as children of God.
Informed by the latest clinical research and drawing on the same guiding principles as Sadusky’s first book, Start Talking to Your Kids about Sex—which focuses on elementary-age children—Talking with Your Teen about Sex helps equip parents to be primary educators as teens move through adolescence. Guided by Catholic teaching, this book, intended for ages ten and up, goes beyond the typical “sex talk.” It will equip you to confidently communicate with your child about topics such as bodily changes, physical boundaries, sexual ethics, and masturbation with greater comfort. You’ll find concrete advice and ready-to-go conversation starters for your biggest questions, including
Why am I having such a hard time starting the conversation? What is happening to my child’s body? How do I actually have the sex talk? How do I respond to crushes and dating? What if they tell me something bad happened to them? Sadusky gives specific attention to the ways in which boys and girls experience puberty and sexuality differently. The sexual and pubescent development of each sex is addressed individually throughout the book, and in some cases, separate chapters are designated for discussions with boys and others for discussions with girls.
Finally, Sadusky will challenge you in ways that might feel uncomfortable at times. She also will encourage you to consider your own ideas about sex and to reflect on areas of shame you may carry.
This book is for any Catholic parent and other adults entrusted with the formation of preteens and teens.
256 pages, Paperback
Published March 15, 2024
7 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 9, 2024
A real curates egg to read as a protestant. Some exceptional wisdom and research here, but also some reliance on Catholic dogma rather than Scripture which makes it less transferable as a resource. Full review to come for Living Out.
January 18, 2026
This book is such an amazing guide for parents and shepherds of teens. With really practical and straightforward suggestions and sample conversations, Dr. Sadusky does a masterful work of holding parents’ hands through hard conversations with their teens. Don’t miss this text.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews