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Joseph Ciarrochi, Louise L Hayes, Katharine Hall 
The ultimate teen guide to handling all the pressures and challenges of life—your own way!
Being a teen in today’s world is tough. Between school pressure, family, friends, and extracurricular activities: sometimes it can feel like you’re being pulled in a dozen different directions, and none of them are your way. On top of that, you may feel lonely, angry, or depressed; or you may wonder if you’re good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough. So, how can you overcome these self-doubts, and cultivate the strength to face life’s challenges and reach your full potential?
In Your Life, Your Way, you’ll learn how to deal with all the changes and challenges of the teen years—and how to grow into the person you want to be. You’ll learn doable skills grounded in mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and positive psychology to help you form positive friendships, manage difficult emotions, and get unstuck from bad habits. You’ll also learn real tips for dealing with several life challenges, including:
Once you identify your own personal struggles, you can decide how you want to face them—as strong, assertive, kind, honourable, caring, fun, supportive, friendly, agreeable, bold, persistent, or giving.
If you’re ready to take charge of your destiny and face problems head on in your own way, this fun and illustrated book has everything you need to get started today!
Acknowledgments
Introduction / How to use this Book
Part 1 Building your Skills
Part 2 Focusing Your Skills
4.When You Can't Stop Thinking or Worrying
5. When You Are Anxious or Nervous
6. Build Strong, Supportive Relationships
7. Manage Bullies
8. When You Feel Low or Sad
9. When You Have Been Hurt, Been Afraid, or Feel Unsafe
10. When Your Online Life is a Hassle
11. Develop Authentic Self-Confidence
12. Become Excellent at Anything
Afterword
Dial into Your DNA-V Strengths
Resources & References
"Your Life, Your Way takes a scientific model and makes it tangible and practical. Parents ought to buy this book for their teens. But, please parents, read it and try the exercises first. You might just change with your teens. Also, as a supervisor, I would certainly offer this book to trainees as a treatment outline. The structure is simple, direct, and flexible enough to fit real-world therapy."
- Kelly Wilson, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Mississippi, founding president of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS), and coauthor of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
"The DNA-V model is a game changer; one of the most exciting third-wave interventions in years. This cool-looking book presents the model in a way that teens will love and find helpful."
- Ben Sedley, PhD, clinical psychologist, and author of Stuff That Sucks
"Your Life, Your Way speaks authentically to young people setting out to figure out who and how they want to be. The authors’ DNA-V model is a practical, accessible framework that is clearly grounded in well-researched principles of behavior change, as well as adolescent development. With meaningful questions to ponder and exercises to build new skills, this book provides exceptional tools to guide teens throughout their life’s journey."
- Siri Ming, PhD, BCBA-D, behavior analyst, and coauthor of Using RFT to Promote Generative Language
"A unique, skillfully crafted tool kit for empowering young people, no matter what they are struggling with. This beautifully illustrated workbook shows young people that they are the person they have been waiting for—they have the power to transform and move their lives in a direction that sets their hearts on fire. I cannot think of a more perfect and timely resource for teens (and the adults who support them)."
- Evelyn Gould, PhD, BCBA-D, clinical behavior analyst at the New England Center for OCD and Anxiety, and research associate at Harvard Medical School
"Adolescence is a time of discovery, of taking mindful risks, and of learning flexibility in the face of the uncertainty and adversity involved in growing up in our world as it is today. This book is a gift to adolescents and their parents, as well as clinicians, teachers, counselors, and coaches who work with them. Created by Joe Ciarriochi and Louise Hayes, this brilliant book based in acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is just what every teen needs: a pragmatic, accessible, down-to-earth guide that will empower them to go out and live their way into their best lives. Sixteen-year-old me really, really loves this book, and highly recommends it!"
- Lisa W. Coyne, PhD, assistant professor in the department of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School; founder of the New England Center for OCD and Anxiety in Boston, MA; and author of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
"Your Life, Your Way is not only filled with thoughtful and valuable guidance, it is also filled with rich, textured, and fun images and exercises. It is the perfect book to aid teenagers in relating to their emotions in an effective fashion. It is ideal for helping them build resiliency. I was wonderfully captured by each page. Ciarrochi and Hayes have ‘nailed it’ with this amazing self-help guide for those who are young and struggling. I might even suggest that us grown-ups could use it too! Thank you for creating such an amazing journey; it will be invaluable to all who explore its pages."
- Robyn D. Walser, PhD, codirector of the Bay Area Trauma Recovery Clinic; assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley; author of The Heart of ACT; and coauthor of Learning ACT and The Mindful Couple
"What would it be like to own your own life? I don’t mean a life that’s perfect, or smooth, or easy. I mean a life that’s about what your heart yearns for it to be about. That can happen, and this book is about how to get it to happen. It’s based on scores of studies about people just like you, but it is easy to read, clear, and wise. If you want your life, your way—this book will show you how."
- Steven C. Hayes, PhD, Nevada Foundation Professor in the department of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno; and codeveloper of ACT
