Leah Aguirre - The Girls Guide to Relationships, Sexuality, and Consent: Tools to Help Teens Stay Safe, Empowered, and Confident

Teenaged girls today face many challenges, but they hesitate to initiate potentially awkward conversations with the adults in their lives. Often, they dont know enough about their concerns to figure out what information or guidance they need, or how to get it. The Girls Guide to Relationships, Sexuality, and Consent precisely provides the content, support, wisdom, accessibility, and privacy girls want and need. Thank you, Leah and Geraldine!

Debra Gilbert Rosenberg, AM, LCSW , psychotherapist for more than thirty-five years, and author of The New Moms Companion and Motherhood without Guilt

As a psychologist specializing in teen girls, I will certainly have this book prominently displayed in my office! It educates and clarifies one of the most timely and sensitive topics facing teens today. I am grateful to the authors for covering this massive topic so comprehensively, and in a way that leaves the reader with a greater sense of agency and empowerment. Its a must-have resource for every teen.

Lucie Hemmen, PhD , clinical psychologist, and author of Parenting a Teen Girl

I wish Id had this sex-positive, psychologically astute, nonjudgmental, kind, and inclusive guide when I was a teenager! Actually, it probably would have helped me in my twenties as well. This book respects the intelligence of young people to work through complex questions of desire, consent, and safety. A great gift for your daughter, niece, or any other young people in your life.

Rachel Krantz , award-winning journalist, and author of Open

Leah and Geraldine have created an outstanding resource on a sensitive and significant topic. This book is a comprehensive and straightforward guide to all aspects of dating, from building self-esteem to navigating breakups to the legal and emotional ramifications of sex without consent. With the pervasive internet component in todays social environment, teaching teens to stay physically and emotionally healthy in dating relationships is critical. Teen boys should read this, too!

Lisa M. Schab, LCSW , psychotherapist; and author of eighteen self-help books, including The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens and the Put Your Worries Here journaling series

The Girls Guide to Relationships, Sexuality, and Consent has the guidance, language, and specific tools for teens to explore some of the most challenging parts of navigating this period of their lives. Brilliantly written and with examples that are relatable and easy to read, teens and their parents will benefit greatly from this resource!

Jessica Yaffa, CPC , certified professional relationship coach, and president of NoSilence NoViolence

I am wholeheartedly recommending this book to my patients! A very thoughtful and inclusive resource, written by experienced therapists, to help teens and their families navigate the complex and challenging topics of relationships, identity formation, and much more!

Kali Hobson, MD , adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist

Publishers Note

This book is presented solely for educational purposes. The authors and publisher are not offering it as legal, therapeutic, or other professional services; they assume no liabilities with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents. Neither the authors nor the publisher shall be held liable or responsible to any person or entity with respect to any loss or any damages caused or alleged to have been caused, directly or not, by the information or programs contained herein. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. This book is not designed to substitute psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services, and you should seek the services of a competent professional before making significant changes or life decisions.

While this book reflects common situations and experiences, the characters, entities, names, and stories are purely fictional. Any likeness to actual people, either living or dead, is strictly coincidental.

INSTANT HELP, the Clock Logo, and NEW HARBINGER are trademarks of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

New Harbinger Publications is an employee-owned company.

Copyright 2022 by Leah Aguirre and Geraldine OSullivan

Instant Help Books

An imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

All Rights Reserved

Cover design by Amy Shoup; Acquired by Georgia Kolias; Edited by Teja Watson

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Aguirre, Leah, author. | OSullivan, Geraldine, author.

Title: The girls guide to relationships, sexuality, and consent : tools to help teens stay safe, empowered, and confident / Leah Aguirre, Geraldine OSullivan.

Description: Oakland, CA : Instant Help Books, [2022] | Series: The instant help solutions series | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2022018697 | ISBN 9781684039739 (trade paperback)

Subjects: LCSH: Teenage girls--Conduct of life--Juvenile literature. | Dating (Social customs)--Juvenile literature. | Sexual ethics for teenagers--Juvenile literature. | Interpersonal relations in adolescence--Juvenile literature. | BISAC: YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Dating & Sex | YOUNG ADULT NONFICTION / Social Topics / Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance

Classification: LCC HQ798 .A49 2022 | DDC 305.235/2--dc23/eng/20220425

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022018697

Contents

For my mom and dad, both social workers, for instilling the values and beliefs that have made me the person I am today and inspired me to do the work I do. Leah Aguirre

For my dad, who married a strong, educated woman and raised three strong, educated women. Thank you for leading by example in the value of respecting women. Geraldine OSullivan

A Note for Caring Adults

To the parents, caregivers, and compassionate adults who have chosen this book for their teen, we thank you! It can be challenging to navigate complex and sensitive conversations with your teen about relationships, sexuality, self-esteem, and identity. By selecting this book for your teen, youve taken a great step in helping her to develop a healthy understanding of who she is and how she fits into the world we live in today.

As therapists, we are familiar with the difficulties girls face in todays environment, especially within the digital culture of social media. Whether it be unrealistic expectations of physical appearance, pressure to send/receive explicit images, physical or online harassment, or unhealthy relationships, these challenges can take a toll on mental health and self-worth.

To combat them, our priority is to empower girls to identify their values and enhance their self-esteem. We believe that this lays the groundwork for healthy relationship choices. Educating teens about sexuality helps to build confidence, prevent dating violence, and promote safe choices. Throughout the book, girls will learn to navigate relationships, breakups, and decision-making regarding sexual health. Theyll also be provided with therapeutic exercises they can use to help them along the way.

We understand the natural concerns that caring adults may have when it comes to their teens sexual development. Rest assured that this book serves to empower girls to make healthy, safe, and conscious choices based on their personal values. Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to have open and honest communication with trusted adults as they face new situations and challenges. We thank you for providing your teen with the opportunity to do that!