Yshai Boussi, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor who has helped teens, young adults, and families for more than twenty years. He runs a private practice with his wife Mariah, in Portland, OR, called Portland Family Counseling. Yshai is a highly sought-after speaker, and writes a parenting blog on his website, www.yshaiboussi.com.
""Staying Connected with Your Teen is a thoughtful resource for any parent, caregiver, educator, or clinician with a teenager in their lives. Boussi's warm style, coupled with his personally engaging stories, bring the reader in. His framework demystifies our adolescent's emotional needs, helping us to develop wisdom, deepen our compassion, and feel more prepared to engage in our most important relationships."" --Rachel Hershenberg, PhD, ABPP, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University, and author of Activating Happiness--Rachel Hershenberg, PhD, ABPP ""Boussi writes in a down-to-earth and relatable way that immediately hooks the reader in and makes them feel less alone in what often are challenging parenting times. Staying Connected with Your Teen is the perfect book to compliment parents who are on their own healing journeys. Every parent raising a teenager needs to read this book; it's a comprehensive guide on how to understand your teen's behaviors and brain development, how to help them regulate their nervous system (and your own!), how to connect with them to deepen your relationship, and how to parent through the difficult moments. This book has it all, and I can't wait to recommend this to all the parents I know."" --Leah Katz, PhD, clinical psychologist, and author of Gutsy--Leah Katz, PhD ""Hasn't every parent been confused at what exactly is going on with their teenager? Staying Connected with Your Teen is an essential read for parents looking to understand what is happening to their children during adolescence, and more importantly, how to stay connected with their teenagers."" --Hanif Fazal, CEO/managing partner of the Center for Equity and Inclusion--Hanif Fazal ""The best of parenting skills will fall flat without authentic connection and emotional regulation. Yshai drives this home by providing tried-and-true parenting skills, while also coaching parents in building strong relationships with their teens. As a person and a professional, Yshai embodies the playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, and empathy that are the pillars of parent-child relationships. He has managed to weave his presence into the pages of this excellent parenting resource."" --Ally Burr-Harris, PhD, licensed psychologist at Children's Program in Portland, OR; and director of the Child Trauma and Attachment Program--Ally Burr-Harris, PhD ""The secret to raising a teenager well, as Yshai Boussi brings to light, begins with understanding what makes them shut down, ramp up, or settle into comfortable connectedness. This wise and warmhearted book guides you to befriend your child's nervous system, and build a life-giving bond that steadies them as they navigate the complexities of emerging adulthood. Relax. Absorb the insights. See your teen anew. You're in good hands."" --George S. Thompson, MD, child psychiatrist, and coauthor of Polyvagal Theory and the Developing Child and Working with Relational Trauma in Children's Residential Care--George S. Thompson, MD ""Yshai Boussi brings his two decades of expertise with teens to an essential guide for today's parents. His intimate knowledge of the inner world of adolescents is remarkable, and he seamlessly illuminates polyvagal theory in a way that is truly accessible. His practical strategies for connecting with teens in an authentic and positive way are inspiring. Boussi's book is a must-read given Gen Z's emotional climate."" --Goali Saedi Bocci, PhD, licensed clinical psychologist; and author of The Social Media Workbook for Teens, The Digital Detox Deck, and The Positivity Workbook for Teens--Goali Saedi Bocci, PhD ""Yshai Boussi offers a new lens through which to look at parenting. Utilizing the latest research on the nervous system's impact on relationships, he shows us how to maintain calm and stay connected to our teens. Filled with useful resources and practical tips, the writing is personal, approachable, and realistic. Most importantly, it will leave parents with a greater sense of hope on their parenting journey."" --Howard Hiton, therapist in private practice, and coauthor of BAM! Boys Advocacy and Mentoring Boys--Howard Hiton