Speaking of Teens Ann Coleman

Who would your teen talk to if they were having issues with their mental health? Their friends? A trusted adult? You? If they're hesitant to reach out for help, why? Does stigma play a role?The Jed Foundation (JED) recently published a report called Exploring Barriers to Mental Health Support Among U.S. Teens (see a summary here if you want a shorter read). The report outlines what young people say stands in the way of reaching out for help when they are struggling.Today, I'm talking to...

Today I'm talking to Beth Syverson, an adoptive mom, host of the podcast Unraveling Adoption and mother to a son who struggles with his mental health and substances.Beth discovered that her son's issues stem from trauma (which is quite common). His trauma however, is one many people don't think about; adoption relinquishment.What Beth and I discuss is relevant to you whether your child is adopted or not. But if you're like me, and adopted your child, it will be eye-opening indeed.You can find...

As it turns out, teens and tweens across the globe feel there’s a lot that parents just don’t understand. Today I’m bringing you the most common and often repeated of these issues that I’ve gathered from therapists, teachers, and various adults who've worked with teens for decades. Plus I’ve found much written by teens themselves including some very colorful comments from Quora and Reddit.Show Notes for other resources and sourcesTranscriptFind our FREE Parenting Guides Here"I just wante...

Today, I'm talking to you about your teens and alcohol. I'll answer LOTS of questions for you, including: Does allowing your teen or tween to have a sip of wine or beer with you, prevent them from being problem drinkers?Does providing a place for your teens to drink with friends, keep them safer than they would be out partying elsewhere?Should you expect that your teens are going to drink alcohol and try to teach them "responsible drinking"?Should you drink in front of your teens or keep...

Did you know that 98% of teens lie about at least one issue or another? And guess what? The general consensus among researchers and mental health professionals is that this is not only normal, but it would be a little worrisome if they didn’t lie a bit. The good news is, this is not a character flaw or a sign that they’re going to grow up to be a liar. By the time people reach adulthood, about three-quarters are consistently honest. The big spike in the chart during adolescence is ...

Today is the final day - Day 8 - of my series explaining the foundational principles you need to understand about parenting teens (so you can spend less time arguing and more time enjoying them!)I’ve talked about the importance of maintaining the connection with your teen throughout this this series. And today, I’ll explain why that connection is critical to keeping your teen safe and mentally healthy. Plus, I’ll tell you how to accomplish this “connection” (especially if your teen won’t give...