Parenting Anxious Teens | Parenting Teens, Managing Teen Anxiety, Parenting Strategies

Hi Parents! Preparing your teen for college goes far beyond academics, especially if they struggle with anxiety, executive functioning, or are neurodivergent. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tara Williams, executive functioning coach and professor, to talk about how parents can support their teens in building the real-life skills they need to succeed in college and beyond. From time management and organization to emotional regulation and independence, we unpack what true college readiness actually looks like. We also dive into how to help your teen develop self-advocacy skills, so they can communicate their needs, ask for help, and navigate challenges with confidence. If you’ve ever felt stuck between wanting to support your teen and not wanting to do everything for them, this conversation will help you find that balance. Dr. Tara shares practical, realistic ways to start building these skills at home, especially for anxious or neurodivergent teens who may need more guidance and support. Whether your teen is a few years away from college or already starting to think about the transition, this episode will give you tools to help them become more independent, confident and prepared for what’s next, without adding more pressure or overwhelm. 👉🏻 Summer Programs for Teens & College Students NEW: My 6-week parent program, The Parent’s Anxiety Toolkit™, is now open! If you’re raising an anxious teen and feeling overwhelmed, unsure what to say, or exhausted by the constant worry, this program will help you feel more calm, confident, and equipped with practical tools that actually work. Big hugs, Monica Crnogorac Next Steps Book a Free Discovery Call Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program Connect With Me on Instagram

Hi Parents! Do you notice that your teen is highly sensitive or easily overwhelmed? Dr. Judith Orloff, psychiatrist and empath, explains how parents can recognize and support highly sensitive teens, who often experience anxiety more intensely than their peers. Dr. Orloff introduces her newest children’s book, The Highly Sensitive Rabbit, sharing the story of Aurora, a sensitive rabbit learning to embrace her emotions. She connects this story to real-life guidance for anxious and highly sensitive teens, including the importance of alone time, healthy coping strategies, and ways to manage shame or bullying. This conversation provides parents with actionable insights into the behaviours of highly sensitive teens, how to nurture their emotional well-being, and tools to help them centre themselves when anxiety and overwhelm strike. Whether your teen is introverted, intensely empathetic, or easily stressed, this episode is full of practical advice for fostering resilience and self-acceptance. More Books by Judith: 📚 The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People 📚 The Genius of Empathy: Practical Skills to Heal Your Sensitive Self, Your Relationships, and the World Big hugs, Monica Crnogorac Next Steps Book a Free Discovery Call Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program Connect With Me on Instagram

Hi Parents! Are you concerned about how your teen is navigating alcohol, especially during the transition from high school to college? In this episode, Dr. Rob Turrisi, a leading researcher in adolescent health and behavioural decision-making, shares practical, evidence-based strategies that parents can use to help their teens make informed and safe choices. Rob explains how teens make decisions around alcohol, what factors influence those choices, and why understanding these patterns is key for parents. He also discusses the vulnerable transition to college, the importance of teaching protective behaviours, and why allowing teens to drink at home does not prevent risky drinking. Rob highlights the rising rates of blackout drinking and alcohol use disorder among emerging adults and shares communication strategies, including monitoring, modelling, and balancing warmth with clear expectations, that can influence long-term decisions. This episode provides actionable advice for parents who want to empower their teens to make smart, healthy choices around alcohol. If you’d like to read any of Rob's research articles, please click here. Big hugs, Monica Crnogorac Next Steps Book a Free Discovery Call Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program Connect With Me on Instagram

Hi Parents! Do your teens feel intense pressure to perform or struggle with self-doubt? Today I’m chatting with Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin, a licensed psychologist and executive coach, who shares practical strategies parents can use to support teens navigating high expectations and performance pressure. Dr. Lisa explains how self-doubt and perfectionism can develop early and why societal pressures can intensify them. She provides tools for parents to help teens manage performance anxiety, shift their focus from perfection to growth, and recover from setbacks without fear of failure. Lisa also offers advice on giving feedback, encouraging healthy risk-taking, and nurturing resilience so teens can thrive in school, sports, and social settings. This episode has actionable guidance for parents who want to help their teens face challenges confidently, develop a healthy mindset around success, and navigate life’s pressures without being overwhelmed. Sign up here to get free tools from Dr. Lisa Orbé-Austin, including guided exercises, conversation scripts, and strategies from Your Child’s Greatness. Big hugs, Monica Crnogorac Next Steps Book a Free Discovery Call Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program Connect With Me on Instagram

Hi Parents! Adolescence is often framed as something parents must survive, but what if the teen years are one of the most powerful developmental opportunities of a lifetime? In this episode, I’m joined by renowned child development expert Ellen Galinsky to reframe how we understand adolescence and what teens truly need from the adults in their lives. Ellen Galinsky is President of the Families and Work Institute, former Chief Science Officer at the Bezos Family Foundation, and the author of The Breakthrough Years, one of the most highly praised parenting books of 2024. Drawing from decades of research and direct conversations with young people ages nine through nineteen, Ellen explains why teens don’t want to pull away from parents but instead seek a different kind of relationship rooted in collaboration, respect, and trust. In our conversation, we explore what executive function skills really are and why adolescence is such a critical window for developing them. Ellen shares how parents can nurture these skills without controlling or rescuing, and how everyday conflict can be transformed into shared problem-solving using her Shared Solutions framework. We also talk about anxiety, pressure, and distraction in today’s world, and why positive risk-taking plays such an important role in building competence, confidence, and resilience. This episode is especially meaningful for parents who feel overwhelmed by their teen’s emotions, behaviour, or motivation and are searching for guidance that feels hopeful, science-backed, and practical. Ellen brings a deeply compassionate and empowering perspective that challenges common myths about teens and invites parents to see adolescence not as a crisis to endure, but as a breakthrough season for connection and growth. If you’re parenting a tween or teen, supporting an anxious child, or wanting a stronger, healthier relationship with your adolescent, this conversation will leave you with a renewed sense of clarity, possibility, and confidence in what truly helps teens thrive. Big hugs, Monica Crnogorac Next Steps Book a Free Discovery Call Visit My Website for More Information on My 8-Week Program Connect With Me on Instagram