A Guide for Parents Navigating the Teen Years with Compassion and Confidence
The teen years are a whirlwind of change—physical, social, emotional, and psychological. For Spokane parents, supporting your teen’s mental health can feel both essential and overwhelming. With increasing pressures from school, social media, and identity formation, teens today are navigating more than most of us ever had to.
But here’s the truth: You don’t have to fix everything. You just have to show up, consistently and without judgment.
This article offers local Spokane resources, practical strategies, and guided tools (like journals!) to help your teen better understand and regulate their emotions—while building trust in you along the way.
👂 Step 1: Listen First, Fix Later
It’s tempting to jump in with solutions when your teen is hurting. But research shows that teens feel better understood and supported when parents validate first. Try these phrases:
- “That sounds really tough. Do you want to talk about it?”
- “Thank you for telling me. I’m here for you, no matter what.”
💡…