In this 6th and final article of the Teen Feelings series, I share 7 guidelines for how to listen to and coach your teen through some problem solving steps: 1. First, find a private place to chat with them. Pause what you’re doing and give them your full attention. This means eye contact, no distractions,…

Welcome back. This is the 5th article in a series about teen feelings. Today, we look at the more subtle reasons why it is important to listen to your teen, and 6 tips for doing so. 1. I cannot stress enough the importance of taking the time to listen to your teen when they seek…

Welcome Back. This is the fourth article in a series about teen feelings. In this article, we take action to build your youngster’s emotional competence. 1. First, let me say that in general, the emotional body is part of our human survival system; it helps us decide what is needed in a situation. In other…

To follow up on Teen Feelings – Part 3, which gives a context for looking at suicide, here is a list of suicide warning signs. These signs mean your youngster’s state has likely reached a serious and critical level, and it is time to take more serious and direct action. It is also wise at…

In this third article of the Teen Feelings series, we skip right into the issue of suicide. 1. As I stated in Teen Feelings – Part 1, a general “rule of thumb” is to take all suicidal thoughts and statements that a child makes seriously. Although things may feel dramatic or silly to parents, suicidal…

Last week, we looked at things to consider when deciding if your teen’s feelings and behaviors are aligned with their experiences, or if they are indicators that your youngster is struggling. This week, we take a deeper look into the life of a teen. 1. First, let me state the obvious: that the teenage years tend…

Recently, I got this question from a parent: QUESTION: “My daughter recently broke up with her boyfriend. She is a high school junior and was both surprised and hurt by the breakup. They had been “dating” for months and I would describe their relationship as close and even intimate. She says they did not have…