Stressed-Out Girls: Helping Them Thrive in the Age of Pressure

by Roni Cohen-Sandler

A guide for parents and educators describes the consequences of unhealthy academic and social pressures on teenage girls and shares strategies for reducing stress and building confidence in young women.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Psychology

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2005

About the author

Roni Cohen-Sandler, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, nationally recognized author, and educator whose various professional roles enhance her ability to help teens, adults, and families. She has written three parenting books, I’m Not Mad, I Just Hate You!, Trust me—Mom, Everyone Else is Going, and Stressed-out Girls: Helping Them Thrive in the Age of Pressure, and is current writing a book about stress for teen girls. Roni Cohen-Sandler gives lectures, workshops, and keynote addresses throughout the U.S. and abroad. She frequently appears as an expert on parenting, raising teenagers, and family relationships for national television, radio, magazines, and newspapers. Through her travels, Roni Cohen-Sandler stays current with cultural trends, the most prevalent challenges teens face today, and their parents’ greatest worries and questions. What she learns about the latest technology, online practices, and teenage behavior further enriches her clinical work.

In her practice, Dr. Cohen-Sandler specializes in psychological testing, individual psychotherapy, and parent guidance. She conducts thorough psychoeducational and neuropsychological evaluations of children, adolescents, and adults struggling with developmental, learning, social-emotional, psychiatric, and behavioral issues. During feedback sessions, Dr. Cohen-Sandler identifies strengths as well as weaknesses along with patterns and key issues, giving parents an in-depth understanding of their children and what is causing their difficulties. She is particularly known for communicating this information in understandable language and providing detailed, applicable recommendations. Dr. Cohen-Sandler often observes students at school, participates in PPT meetings, and guides parents in advocating successfully for their children.

These abilities to zero in on presenting problems and develop corrective strategies facilitate Dr. Cohen-Sandler’s effectiveness in treating the adolescents and adults she sees in psychotherapy. She helps patients to pinpoint unhealthy patterns in relationships and decision-making, better recognize impediments to their goals, and develop viable approaches to overcome them. Dr. Cohen-Sandler’s knowledge of adolescent development, contemporary teen issues, and achievement challenges enables her not only to address core issues with teens, but also to guide their parents. In this work, she encourages mothers and fathers to examine their own histories, beliefs, and parenting approaches to determine what best serves them and their children and to create the strong, trusting relationships.

Reviews

[Shauna Tharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has valuable information. While it directs some information to educators, it’s intended audience seems to be more on the parent side. Much of this information seemed obvious. However, I can see where the case studies and broken down analysis could be helpful.

[Aimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was interesting to read the author's quotations from real-life girls and descriptions of their struggles, as it helped me see how I might look for patterns in the speech and body language of the girls I know. I also appreciated the different "categories" of stressed-out girls described, because it helped me realize how many different stressors might be causing the stress I see girls facing. But aside from providing a more informed perspective, I mostly found the book sort of depressing. The practical advice is all aimed at parents and teachers, which left me feeling rather helpless, as I am neither a parent nor a teacher. I hope parents read this and take away from it, but it wasn't quite the encouragement I was hoping for.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given that I'm a psychology graduate student, there wasn't a whole lot of new information in this book for me. It did make me more acutely aware, however, that prepubescent and early adolescent girls are often hypersensitive to parents and teachers, so parents and teachers need to be mindful of what messages they are sending. It's a useful book for parents and teachers who want to support the healthy psychological development of early adolescent girls.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

About girls, mostly teenage years, and how the pressures for succeeding in school, sports, popularity and clubs. Great for moms to read to realize the pressure is out there. It was getting a little slow for me in the end, but totally worth reading!

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad book. Sound research, data and advice. Sometimes I'm looking for more from these types of books than they can offer. Unrealistic as it sounds I'm always disappointed I can't turn to the author and say, "Yes, but with my kid..."

[Tara Cousineau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this book has been written I think girls are even more stressed out. Roni-Cohen describes teen girls in certain categories that are helpful for parents in dealing with various personality traits, academic and social pressures that girls face.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a therapist. I thought this book was a lot of basic principles and common sense that I already knew. However, I'm rating it 3 stars with my client's parents in mind. I may have a basic understanding but I think those who don't will still find this a valuable resource.

[Katie Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

My co-worker presented this book in a professional learning community setting. I was able to reflect on my own experiences as a 'stressed-out girl" growing up and better connect/help my students.

[Jane Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read for parents of daughters.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really eye opening. Girls do have more expectations placed upon them today than my generation ever did.

It got tedious, so I quit.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is awesome for anyone with girls. A must read.

[Sydney]

Highly recommend for parents of girls. But it's also great for those who write about girls.