
Things You Learn in Therapy
Ep190: Building Trust With Teens
Send us Fan Mail Your teenager doesn’t need you to be a mind reader, a private investigator, or a walking grade portal. They need you to be a safe place. I’m Dr. Beth Trammell, and I’m unpacking what a group of teens directly asked their parents to do differently, plus the small communication shifts that make a big difference in connection, trust, and long-term influence. We talk about the pressure teens carry today: identity, friendships, big emotions, body changes, social media, and rising academic expectations. Then we get practical about parent teen communication skills that lower defensiveness, including modeling feelings language, using tools like a feelings wheel, and validating without automatically agreeing. You’ll also hear what teens want around trust and repair, including why “I’m sorry” matters, why “I’m sorry, but…” is not an apology, and how your first reaction can either open the door or slam it shut. From there, I share three places parents can reorient: grades, risk, and respect. If your teen is generally doing fine, constant grade checking can create avoidable conflict and weaken trust. For risk, we move from controlling every variable to coaching better judgment with simple questions like “What could go wrong?” And when “attitude” shows up, we consider brain development and how to stay warm and firm while still requiring respectful speech. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with another parent of a teen, and leave a review so more families can find the show. What part of parenting a teenager feels hardest right now? This podcast is meant to be a resource for the general public, as well as fellow therapists/psychologists. It is NOT meant to replace the meaningful work of individual or family therapy. Please seek professional help in your area if you are struggling. #breakthestigma #makewordsmatter #thingsyoulearnintherapy #thingsyoulearnintherapypodcast If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns, please contact 988 or seek a treatment provider in your area. If you are a therapist or psychologist and want to be a guest on the show, please complete this form to apply: Podcast Application Form Feel free to share your thoughts at www.makewordsmatterforgood.com or email me at Beth@makewordsmatterforgood.com Support the show www.bethtrammell.com

