4 Tips for Parenting Teens

Parenting is tough. It can get tougher when your child enters the teenage years. Understandably, you might feel overwhelmed when your child starts acting differently and stops wanting to spend time with you, preferring to hang with their friends. You might feel overwhelmed with their mood swings. You might feel anxious about navigating this next phase. You might be unsure. What do you do? What actually helps? We talked to two experts, and an important theme emerged: empathizing with your teen and making sure they feel heard. Here’s how. Have an open communication policy. If you create an atmosphere where your teen feels like they can talk to you — without feeling judged — they’re much more likely to keep you in the loop about their life, said Liz Morrison, LCSW, a psychotherapist who specializes in teen counseling. Your teen will be much more likely to come to you when they’re struggling — instead of trying to handle a problem on their own. Because if a teen feels like they can’t share their true thoughts or feelings, they might isolate themselves or turn to negative coping habits, such as drugs or alcohol, she said. For instance, Morrison worked with a teen who was stealing clothes from other students, which prompted her mom to seek therapy. It turns out that the teen felt like she had no friends. She felt like others made fun of her. She felt left out. She stole clothes because she yearned to fit in. And she didn’t feel like she could talk about...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Children and Teens Family General Mental Health and Wellness Parenting Relationships Self-Esteem Self-Help Stress Active Listening Adolescence Empathy Feeling overwhelmed negative coping habits Open Communication Parenting te Source Type: blogs