Before It's Too Late ─ Why Some Kids Get into Trouble-And What Parents Can Do About It

Is it “just a phase,” or could your child be headed for serious trouble?


If you sense that your child is seriously troubled, you may feel bewildered, helpless, ineffective. How can you stop your child from throwing away his or her life? How can you avoid thinking that you’ve failed as a parent? In this newly revised and expanded edition of the classic guide Before It’s Too Late, clinical psychologist Stanton E. Samenow explains how to break the useless cycle of blame and take corrective action. Topics include:

* How to understand the personality of the antisocial child
* How to tell the difference between a “phase” and a pattern of misbehavior
* How to identify the seven common manifestations of antisocial behavior
* How to cope more effectively as the parent of an older antisocial child
* How to avoid the six common mistakes that prevent parents from taking action
* How to step in—early and effectively—before bad behavior becomes entrenched

Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist who has served on three presidential task forces on crime and drug issues. He is the author of Inside the Criminal Mind and a collaborator with Dr. Samuel Yochelson on the landmark three-volume work The Criminal Personality. Married and the father of two sons, Dr. Samenow is in private practice in Alexandria, Virginia.