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October 17, 2017


Title: Helping Kids Cope with Tragedy
Topic: Family Issues
Discussed by Roberta Perno
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org

Roberta Perno is a licensed professional counselor at Focus on the Family. Today, she offers tips and advice for parents on a sensitive issue: “Helping Kids Cope with Tragedy”.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

How can parents explain hurt and suffering in the world without frightening their children?

Why is it important for parents to be their child’s confidant in situations like this, not the media or even their teachers at school?

Listen as Roberta Perno explains why different age groups should receive different types of information after natural disasters or tragedies.

Should parents be cautious about media overload?

Should parents limit their kids’ exposure to the news?

Do children experience different emotions when tragedy strikes?

How can parents help their children process those emotions?

What advice does Roberta offer the parent when coping with new situations with their own children: going to parties, staying out late, driving, college, etc?

Click here  for more help and information on this topic.



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June 13, 2017


Title: Teenagers and Depression
Topic: Teenagers and Depression
Discussed by Roberta Perno
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org


Part 1 of 2

In any given classroom at the local middle school, high school, or church youth group, more than one third of the girls have faced depression. By age 17, nearly fifteen percent of boys have faced the same agony. Has this sudden tornado struck the inside of your home?

Roberta Perno is a licensed professional counselor at Focus on the Family. Listen in as she discusses the alarming statistics among our teens today.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Why are teen girls so depressed?

Does social media have a negative effect on teens?

How do actresses and pop singers contribute to self-esteem issues? NOTE: Roberta Perno believes this has been an issue for many, many years, but technology has simply compounded the negative effects.

Is any teen susceptible to depression?

What are some signs of depression? Loss of sleep, weight gain or loss, and irritability are just a few. Listen as Roberta offers a much longer list…

Is online activity often hidden, leading to guilt in teens?



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Title: Part 2 of 2 - Teenagers and Depression
Topic: Teenagers and Depression
Discussed by Roberta Perno
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org

Questions/Issues Discussed:

How can girls prepare mentally for the tween and teenage period in her life?

Should parents encourage their older children to talk to their younger siblings about depression?

Roberta Perno has a great acronym parents can use to help their teen who may be battling depression: A.L.I.V.E.  Listen as she explains…

If you or someone you know (of any age) is battling depression, encourage them to call 1.800.A.Family to speak to a licensed counselor for a FREE consultation.

Roberta also mentions a great resource book: “A Relentless Hope: Surviving the Storm of Teen Depression”  by Gary Nelson.



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May 16, 2016


Title: Are Your Kids Sexting?
Topic: Sexting
Discussed by Roberta Perno
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org


Part 1 of 2

Disclaimer: Use caution when listening to this segment around young children. Issues discussed might be upsetting or hard for little ones to understand.

Shock and Awe…You find a nude picture of your daughter on her cell phone…or…you find a nude picture of your teenager’s girlfriend on his cell phone. Now what?

New guest Roberta Perno is a Counselor with Focus on the Family (FOF) and is a frequent speaker at conferences. Her area of expertise centers on adolescent into adulthood, sexual identity, sexual orientation, pornography, depression, and anxiety.

Roberta and others at FOF are helping parents navigate through these waters without the typical anger that arises. “The enemy not only wants to ensnare our children with the influx of social media,” she states, “but he wants the parents to blame and shame [their child].

When it comes to sex, kids are starting younger and younger, especially with experimenting with the same-sex. Roberta believes that social media is definitely a major factor in this unfortunate trend. Listen in as she discusses how frequently the counselors at FOF receive phone calls from parents regarding this issue and what their advice is. “It’s overwhelming and confusing them,” she says. It’s scary and shocking, but the Lord can definitely be glorified through it all.




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Title: Part 2 of 2 - Are Your Kids Sexting?
Topic: Sexting
Discussed by Roberta Perno
with Focus on the Family www.Family.org

Disclaimer: Use caution when listening to this segment around young children. Issues discussed might be upsetting or hard for little ones to understand.

Sexting Stats among young girls: 40% do it as a joke; 34% do it to feel sexy; 12% do it because they were pressured; 17% share sexts they receive with others.

Sexting, however, is no laughing matter. It is not sexy, either, no matter how old you are. It is becoming an everyday occurrence for many teens. “If adults are struggling with these issues, can you only imagine what our teenagers are experiencing?” Roberta Perno asks.

One problem Roberta is noticing is that teens think that all their text messages and private messages through social media are private, but they are not. The government uses surveillance techniques to monitor underage pornography and teens are caught up in this all the time. Too much texting or sexting is also a bridge to addiction to pornography.

Parents need to step back and begin to educate themselves about the real problems their children and teens are facing. Listen as Roberta gives some more advice to parents regarding rules for cell phones and internet access to safeguard their children. Don’t think your child is exempt just because he or she is a Christian and a “good kid”. No child is immune from the temptation.

Click here for more information on this issue and for ways you can help others. If you would like to talk to a counselor FREE of charge, call 1.855.771.4357.



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