264: Best of Ask Lisa: Friendship Breakups & Conflict

264: Best of Ask Lisa: Friendship Breakups & Conflict

From Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life by Dr. Lisa Damour

March 24, 2026 · 23 min

About this episode

This episode provides insights and tools for parents to help their tweens and teens navigate friendship breakups and conflicts.

Your kid just got dropped by their friend group, or they're being left out, iced out, or caught in the middle of middle school friendship drama… and you have no idea what to say. In this “Best of Ask Lisa” compilation, we’ve curated wisdom from clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour on friendship conflict to help parents understand exactly what's happening beneath the surface of tween and teen friend drama and give you the tools to help your kid through it. Whether your child has been dumped by a friend group, is dealing with a mean "friend," or needs help exiting a friendship that isn't working, this “Best of Ask Lisa” episode is for you. 💡 YOU'LL LEARN - The crucial difference between bullying and conflict in middle school, and why it matters for how you respond - Why middle schoolers are so anxious about belonging, and why some kids turn to meanness - Why excluding and rumor-spreading are common weapons in friend group drama - Why kids get excluded from friend groups, and how to explain it to your child in a way that helps them take it less personally - Practical, compassionate things to say and do when your tween or teen is hurting All full episodes featured in this…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dr. Lisa Damour, Reena Ninan

Topics covered

  • friendship conflict
  • tween drama
  • parenting advice
  • bullying vs conflict
  • middle school relationships

Keywords

  • friendship breakups
  • middle school drama
  • parenting tips
  • bullying
  • conflict resolution

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