Blog
Positive Affirmations to Strengthen Your Values
You have tens of thousands of thoughts each day, many are fleeting but some can create a stubbornly negative cycle. If you find yourself in a repeated pattern of telling yourself that you are not good enough, you will start feeling self-doubt and insecurity. One way...
Raising Grateful Teens: Promote Your Teen’s Emotional Intelligence
A concern I frequently hear from parents relates to their teen’s lack of gratitude. Jane, a parent of a high school freshman said this: “She acts like we are the worst people, like we are ruining her life. She doesn’t realize how easy she has it!” ...
How to Help Your Teen Let Go
Letting go is easier said than done, especially if you’re a teen! My teen client Briony* is a good example. She used to have a best friend, Erin*. For years, they were inseparable. Until one day, Briony went to the lunch tables and found Erin sitting with a...
Three Things You Need to Know about Teen Girls and Body Image
Girls' body image tends to take a negative turn during adolescence. Not only are their bodies changing rapidly, but they are also becoming more socially aware. Add social media to the equation and there is a strong potential for a negative body image to emerge....
Shifting Your Parenting Focus: From Pressure to Praise
In a recent teen coaching session, my client Brynn* was distraught. With tears in her eyes, she said she was feeling pressure from “everywhere.” She had a full schedule of after school sports and so much to do for school. She was staying up late to complete homework...
Guiding Girls Series: Teen Sex, Dating, and Romantic Relationships
When it comes to teen sex, dating, and romantic relationships, many teen girls feel uncomfortable talking with their parents. They worry about being asked too many questions, being reprimanded, or finding themselves in what they perceive will be an awkward...
Guiding Girls Series: Managing Teen Stress and Anxiety
According to a recent study in the American Psychology Association, fewer than half of teens rate their mental health as excellent or very good. In fact, most teens deem themselves stressed, anxious, depressed, and/or insecure. Why? Some of it relates to hormones but...
Cultivating Self-Esteem and Self-Awareness
The biggest challenge teenagers face is not what you think. It’s not social media, academic pressure, or fitting in. Teenagers’ biggest challenge relates to their identity and self-discovery. The teen years are a powerful time of change. In addition to learning how...
Make time for fun! How to get out of your rut and enjoy life
When was the last time you got lost in the moment or had a genuine belly laugh? When was the last time you noticed your teen having fun? If you can’t remember, you are not alone. Many parents and teens are so busy in the day-to-day hustle that they don’t make time...
Guiding Girls Through Emotional Ups and Downs
Argumentative, emotional, withdrawn, chaotic, impulsive. These are just a few words commonly used to describe teenagers. Teens can be complicated and their emotional ups and downs are often confusing and challenging for parents. My former parent client, Gina* put...
Guiding Girls Through Friend Drama and Mean Girls
Friendships are one of the most important areas of your teen daughter’s life. They can also be one of the most damaging. If your teenage daughter is dealing with ongoing friend drama, or worse, a so-called mean girl, it can wreck her self-esteem and self-worth. ...
Understanding the Complexities of Teenage Decision Making
Having a clear understanding of the influences that can trigger teenage girls to make poor choices will help you provide effective guidance. Rather than freezing, overthinking or making an unhelpful or risky decision, you can teach your teen to make thoughtful,...