Parenting & Older Adolescents
Parenting changes as our children grow.
Parenting older adolescents and young adults can bring a different kind of challenge. Your child may need you deeply while also pushing for independence. You may find yourself trying to figure out when to step in, when to step back, and how to stay connected as your relationship changes.
You may be dealing with conflict at home, worry about your child’s choices or future, difficulty communicating, changing family dynamics, or the challenge of watching your child struggle when you can’t simply fix what is wrong.
And sometimes parenting brings up things in us that we didn’t expect—fear, anger, self-doubt, grief, or experiences from our own childhood.
Finding a different way to respond
Therapy can provide a place to step out of the urgency of day-to-day parenting and look more closely at what is happening—for your child, in your relationship, and within you.
We can explore the patterns and triggers that make certain interactions especially difficult, while finding ways to respond with greater calm, clarity, and intention. The goal isn’t to become a perfect parent. It’s to better understand yourself and your child, strengthen your relationship, and find ways of parenting that reflect what matters most to you.
Therapy for older adolescents and young adults
I also work directly with older adolescents and young adults as they navigate increasing independence, relationships, family dynamics, school or work, identity, and questions about what comes next.
Therapy can give young people a space of their own to talk openly, understand themselves more fully, and develop greater confidence in handling the challenges in their lives.
Staying connected while things change
Whether I’m working with a parent or directly with a young person, I bring a warm, collaborative approach grounded in curiosity, mindfulness, and self-compassion.