John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD

John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD John Sommers-Flanagan is a clinical psychologist and professor of counselor education at the University of Montana. He is a long-time member of both the ACA and APA. He also serves as a mental health consultant with Trapper Creek Job Corps. John’s latest books, co-written with his wife Rita, are How to Listen so Parents will Talk and Talk so Parents will Listen (Wiley, 2011), Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories in Context and Practice (2nd ed.) (Wiley, 2012), Clinical Interviewing (4th ed) (Wiley, 2009), and Tough Kids, Cool Counseling (2nd ed.) (ACA, 2007). In his wild and precious spare time, John loves to run, dance, laugh, and produce home-made family music videos. You can access his personal blogsite at johnsommersflanagan.com.

A Short Piece on Disrespecting Teenagers

By John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD on 6/27/14 - 12:00 PM

We have an American cultural norm to disrespect teenagers. For example, it’s probably common knowledge that teens are: Naturally difficult Not willing to listen to good common sense from adults Emotionally unstable Impulsively acting without thinking through consequences Wait, most of these are good descriptors of Bill O’Reilly. Isn’t he an adult? Seriously, most television shows, movies, and adult rhetoric tends toward dismissing and disrespecting teens. It’s not unusual for people to express sympathy to parents of teens. “It’s a hard time . . . I...

Listening as Meditation

By John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD

Through the Anger Looking Glass

By John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD

The Miraculous (or not) Efficacy of S...

By John Sommers-Flanagan, PhD