Let's Make a Contract

Dr. Ann Schiebert spent twenty-five years working in emergency psychiatry and chemical dependency before writing this guide, and that clinical depth shows on every page. The book's core contribution is the Preemptive Parenting by Contract model — practical scripts, sample contracts, and step-by-step guidance that give parents a structured way to set enforceable boundaries with a teenager in the grip of substance use without every conversation becoming a shouting match. Parents who have used the approach report real reductions in verbal conflict and better follow-through when consequences are predictable and written down. The honest caveat is that this is a secular clinical framework with no faith dimension, which faith-based families may want to supplement. Contract-based parenting also works better for some personality types than others. But for parents who feel lost and need a concrete starting point, this is a credible, well-grounded resource.