Your Questions About Building a Healthy Parent-Teen Relationship, Answered

In this Q&A edition of the Thriving Kids Podcast, Dr. Dave Anderson takes on parents’ top questions about raising teenagers. Building on last week’s conversation with Dr. Lisa Damour, he shares research-backed guidance for navigating everything from therapy resistance and social media boundaries to privacy battles, motivation slumps, and shifting moods — all while keeping connection and communication strong at home. Have a question for Dr. Dave? Email podcast@childmind.org What you’ll learn • How to approach therapy when your teen refuses to go • The best way to address vaping or substance use without pushing your teen away • What to do when school motivation swings from “I love it” to “I don’t care” • How to set limits around social media that actually stick • Ways to balance trust, privacy, and safety at home • How to support anxious teens without reinforcing avoidance • Signs that moodiness is typical vs. when it’s time to seek help • Why staying connected — even through protest — protects teen mental health Find related resources at childmind.org.