18. How to parent a teenager who is 'isolating'

Explicit content warning

05/26/22 • 28 min

Tell The Others

I wanted to share a recent question I received in my parenting group about teenagers and their unique challenges.

It opened a HUGE can of worms as I honed in on the real issue behind this mom’s concerns - a loss of control.

Q: “My 17-year-old is staying in her room and isolating, not talking to us as much as she used to. I’m worried something is going on. Can you help?”

It’s such a classic scenario that can lead to feelings of rejection, sadness and a loss of control for parents.

But is ‘control’ the best way to parent?

Will it get them to confide in you when they’re under pressure to take drugs, have sex or engage in the kind of risk-taking activities that teens are wired to explore?

Or will it push them away?

If you’d like some insight into what’s ‘normal’ for teenagers (even if your kids aren’t there yet!) - and why we need to parent them differently - you won’t want to miss this answer from a recent Q&A call.

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Strong-willed child at home? Discover just how S.P.I.C.Y. they are with this quick, 5-minute quiz *https://heidilinks.com/quiz-pod*

At the end, you'll receive a free, in-depth report containing a bunch of insights and helpful strategies to meet their unique needs!
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It helps grow the channel and reach more people who need the unique tools for navigating parenthood with a strong-willed or neurodivergent child
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I wanted to share a recent question I received in my parenting group about teenagers and their unique challenges.

It opened a HUGE can of worms as I honed in on the real issue behind this mom’s concerns - a loss of control.

Q: “My 17-year-old is staying in her room and isolating, not talking to us as much as she used to. I’m worried something is going on. Can you help?”

It’s such a classic scenario that can lead to feelings of rejection, sadness and a loss of control for parents.

But is ‘control’ the best way to parent?

Will it get them to confide in you when they’re under pressure to take drugs, have sex or engage in the kind of risk-taking activities that teens are wired to explore?

Or will it push them away?

--
Strong-willed child at home? Discover just how S.P.I.C.Y. they are with this quick, 5-minute quiz *https://heidilinks.com/quiz-pod*

Previous Episode

17. Why does my child have anxiety when their life seems pretty easy?

One of the common questions I hear in my private practice is ‘Why does my child have anxiety, especially when they have nothing to be stressed about?’
While it’s easy to view their anxiety as ‘attention seeking’ or ‘being dramatic’, the key message they need from us is: you are safe, and I can help you.
With that in mind, we need to reframe the way we view anxiety and understand how - and why - it shows up in our children.
Join me as I dive into the origins of anxiety, how it manifests in our own lives, and how we can extend more compassion (rather than annoyance) when our children are anxious.

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Strong-willed child at home? Discover just how S.P.I.C.Y. they are with this quick, 5-minute quiz *https://heidilinks.com/quiz-pod*

Next Episode

19. How to promote a healthy body image in your children

Join Heidi and Vanessa (a trauma therapist and Licensed Mental Health Social Worker) on their deep dive into all things body image, and how to find freedom in food.
Some of the topics covered: