What if your teen saying “I’m fine” is actually a sign that something deeper is going on? Could the way you’re trying to help your anxious teen actually be adding more pressure without you realizing it? How do you help your teenager build confidence, manage anxious thoughts, and find their identity in Christ without making faith feel like another expectation? In this episode, I’m talking with Kristen Phillips, a high school counselor and teen anxiety coach who helps teen girls break free from anxiety, perfectionism, and people pleasing while learning that their worth comes from God, not their performance. Kristen knows this struggle personally. As a teenager, she was a high achiever who played sports, had friends, performed in school plays, and graduated as salutatorian. But underneath the success, she constantly questioned whether she was enough. Today, she uses both her personal experience and professional background to help teen girls navigate anxiety, comparison, perfectionism, people pleasing, and the pressure to fit in. Her podcast, Anxious Christian Teen, reaches hundreds of girls every week and is ranked in the top 3% globally. Her mission is simple. To help create a less anxious generation, one girl at a time. We talk about what anxiety actually looks like in teenagers, how parents can recognize warning signs, the impact of social media and comparison, and why high-achieving girls can struggle so much with feeling like they are never enough. Kristen also shares one of the biggest mistakes parents make when trying to help an anxious teen. We talk about why listening needs to come before fixing, what to do when your teen won’t open up, and how to create a safe space where they feel comfortable talking to you. And because this is Strength for Generations, we also talk about faith. How do we point our kids toward Jesus without making faith feel like another thing they have to perform? How do we help them understand that their identity isn't found in their grades, appearance, friendships, athletic performance, or what other people think? Their identity is found in Christ. This is an honest, practical conversation for parents who want to help their kids become stronger mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Meet Kristen Phillips: Kristen Phillips is a high school counselor and teen anxiety coach who helps Christian teen girls overcome anxiety, perfectionism, and people pleasing. She understands the struggle because she lived it herself. Her passion is helping girls recognize their worth comes from God rather than their performance and giving them practical tools they can use in everyday life. Kristen is also the host of the Anxious Christian Teen podcast, which reaches hundreds of girls every week and ranks in the top 3% globally. Her mission is to help mold a less anxious generation, one girl at a time. Connect with Kristen: Website: anxiouschristianteen.com Podcast: Anxious Christian Teen Free Resource: 5 Steps to PEACE Email: info@anxiouschristianteen.com Timestamps: 00:00 – Why this conversation matters for parents 01:50 – Meet Kristen Phillips 02:36 – Coffee with Queen Esther 03:36 – What anxiety actually looks like in teenagers 05:56 – Kristen’s personal story with anxiety and perfectionism 08:03 – How God used her story to prepare her for this work 09:48 – Normal teenage stress vs. anxiety that needs more attention 10:57 – Warning signs parents often miss 11:59 – Social media, comparison, and body image 14:47 – Why teenagers need a break from constant notifications 15:48 – The biggest mistake parents make when trying to help 18:19 – Why listening needs to come before fixing 18:52 – Showing our kids that we make mistakes too 20:09 – What to do when your teen won’t open up 21:50 – When your teenager says, “I’m fine” 23:48 – Perfectionism and people pleasing 24:27 – Why Christian teens can feel caught between two worlds 26:09 – Early signs of harmful people pleasing 27:12 – Why the preteen years matter 27:51 – Pointing our teens toward Jesus without creating pressure 30:06 – What to say when your teen prays but still feels anxious 32:04 – One thing an overwhelmed teen can do today 32:28 – Taking anxious thoughts captive 34:40 – Sleep and daily habits that can support anxious teens 36:39 – Anxiety in high-achieving and athletic girls 38:04 – Replacing negative thoughts with what is true 39:35 – Encouragement for parents who feel like they’re failing 40:50 – “Do your best and let God do the rest” 43:04 – Paying attention to what is influencing our kids 43:47 – Kristen’s Five Steps to PEACE resource 44:36 – Building strength for generations 45:34 – The legacy Kristen hopes to leave Connect with Christa: Email: support@bakerfamilyfitness.com Website: bakerfamilyfitness.com Facebook: facebook.com/christabaker Instagram: @bakerfamilyfitness Next Steps: ✅ Ready for Personal Coaching? Email support@bakerfamilyfitness.com if you're serious about transforming your health and building strength that lasts for generations. ✅ Start Today: The next time your teen shares something difficult with you, pause before you try to fix it. Listen first. Ask questions. Give them space to be heard. ✅ Take Captive Your Thoughts: When an anxious thought starts spiraling, ask, “Is this real?” and “What is the evidence?” Then replace the thought with what is true. ✅ Build Faith Into Everyday Life: Help your teen see God as an anchor in everyday life, not another expectation they have to perform. ✅ Join the Community: Follow @bakerfamilyfitness for daily motivation and tips. ✅ Share This Episode: Know a busy Christian parent who needs to hear this? Send them this episode. ✅ Take Action: Pay attention this week to what your teen is watching, listening to, thinking about, and carrying internally. Then create space for a real conversation. You don’t have to be a perfect parent. You don’t have to have every answer. You just have to keep showing up, keep listening, and keep pointing your kids back to what is true. Do your best and let God do the rest. Keep building strength for generations.
