Coaches’ couch: What to do when your teen pulls away

About this episode

The episode discusses how to support teens during their developmental stage while maintaining connection and independence.

Dayna and Jenny are joined by Parent Coach Sheridan Eketone for a deep dive into what teens really need from us during this important developmental stage. They chat about the importance of helping teens build a sense of competence, autonomy and connection - finding what lights them up and creating space for them to lean into their passions (yes, even if they seem a little quirky!). Alongside this, they unpack the quiet power of everyday moments, the ‘snatched’ connections that remind our young people that they’re loved without needing to earn it. They also take an honest look at the things that can unintentionally push teens further away - from long lectures and ‘I-told-you-sos’ to stepping in too quickly to fix things - and how small shifts can make a big difference. You’ll hear practical ways to: Respond when you’re met with attitude or pushback Avoid taking things personally when emotions are running high Make space for a ‘do-over’ when the relationship fractures Support your teen’s growing independence, without losing connection They also shed some light on what’s happening developmentally in the teenage brain, and why - even when they act like they don’t need us - they still…

People in this episode

Hosts: Dayna, Jenny

Guest: Sheridan Eketone

Topics covered

• teen development
• parenting strategies
• building connection
• independence
• emotional support

Keywords

• teenagers
• parenting
• competence
• autonomy
• connection
• emotional intelligence
• developmental stage

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: What’s going on in there? The Neuroscience of the Adolescent Brain

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