When I was a teenager, I couldn’t decide what career path I wanted to pursue after my high school graduation. While I wanted to earn a comfortable living, money wasn’t the only factor guiding my decision. I also desired to have a job that would allow me to help others in some way. If you’re searching for a rewarding career, consider counseling. Counselors have the opportunity to help people solve complicated problems on a daily basis. For instance, as a counselor, you might help a couple resolve marriage issues, aid a teenager battling an eating disorder, or assist an adult dealing with depression. I didn't end up becoming a counselor, but on this blog, I hope you will discover some of the most interesting aspects of being a counselor.
Many teenagers are exposed to pornography on the Internet, either by seeking it out or stumbling across it. For some teens, viewing this adult-oriented material can begin to take over their life, eventually leading to an addictive habit. If you begin to suspect that your teen is dealing with this addiction, or he or she reveals it to you, it's important to take action quickly by seeking the care of a counselor, like one from Lifeline, who specializes in such issues. While this health professional can take charge of talking to your teen and hearing about the addiction, you can make some changes at home that will make your teen less tempted to seek out this online material. Here are some suggestions.
Change The Computer Location
If your teen has a computer in his or her room, it can be too tempting to seek out pornography in private. Move this computer to a high-traffic place in your home, such as the kitchen or living room. When setting up the computer desk, make sure that the screen faces outward. Having the computer set up in this area will allow you to closely monitor your teen's activities on the Internet.
Remove Other Electronic Devices
The surplus of electronic devices in many homes means that teens have several choices for going online, beyond simply using a computer. If the teen has a tablet, consider taking it away. If you have a family tablet, lock it in your home safe so the teen cannot access it. You might also wish to take away your teen's smartphone, given its accessibility for online browsing, or change the smartphone for a traditional flip phone that won't allow the teen to surf the Internet. If your television package provides access to pay-per-view and adult channels, contact your satellite provider to remove these channels or protect them with a password.
Keep The Teen Busy
It's important to avoid trying to punish your teen over this issue. Even if you don't understand it, addictions of any type are viewed as illnesses by many people in the medical community. Try to provide some alternatives that can help your teen stay busy; the addiction urge might be stronger when he or she is bored. Think about activities that your teen might enjoy, or simply try to spend more time with her. For example, if the teen enjoys sports, consider getting some tickets to the local professional team and taking the teen to some games.
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