A single parent, Jensen says she's been noticing significant changes in her daughter's attitude—disinterest in talking, defiance, isolating herself in her room and showing a greater interest in the opposite sex.

"It's definitely a challenge dealing with a teenager. It's hard to tell what they're thinking," Jensen says. "Sometimes I feel like I'm the only one going through this."

She's not. She's one of several who will be graduating from a six-week teen-parenting workshop taking place every Wednesday in the Los Gatos High School Library.

The workshop, facilitated by Los Gatans Donna Boger, Joanne Rogers and Nancy DeFever, was first introduced more than 20 years ago and is a project by the Community Against Substance Abuse organization. It covers the same principles discussed in Don Dinkmeyer's book Systematic Training for Effective Parenting, such as diagnosing different behaviors, identifying and comparing problems that 12- to 18-year-olds and 18- to 60-year-olds go through, learning effective methods of encouragement, practicing listening skills and reasoning consequences for specific actions.

"We emphasize a democratic approach to parenting rather than an autocratic or permissive one," says Boger, who has proof that the program works.

Before she joined the program, she took a similar class several years ago when she was going through some tough times with her adolescent children, who are now all accomplished individuals. She says what she learned saved her relationship with them.

Fellow students Bill Tobin and his wife haven't yet experienced what Boger went through raising her children, nor do they want to. They're taking the class to not only prepare themselves, but to help keep the lines of communication open between themselves and their two children, ages 10 and 13.

"We're learning how to take something that already works pretty well and make it better," Tobin says. Halfway through the program, he says he's already noticed some changes in himself.

"I went from having a manager's role to being a consultant," he says. "I'm also a better observer and a more patient person."

To add to the learning experience, students are given homework assignments, one of which is to have family meetings.

"This is one thing we really stress," Boger says. "The purpose is to have everybody belong to a group."

Tobin says family meetings are one of the highlights of the week. His family meets once a week for 15 to 45 minutes, depending on what's being discussed, which can be anything from planning family vacations to chores.

"It doesn't matter what the issue is," Tobin says. "What matters is there is conversation."

For Jensen, the workshop offers a good support system.

"It's nice to hear what other parents have to say about particular topics," she says. "It's nice to know that I'm not alone."

For more information about the class, contact Joanne Rogers at 408.356.1858.