Healthy Family Connections

In this eye-opening episode, we dive into a common parenting dilemma: what happens when therapy for your teen backfires? We explore the story of Mom and her 15-year-old daughter, Olive, whose rebellious behavior leads them to counseling. While the therapist aims to help by advising Mom to loosen her control and give Olive more independence, things take an unexpected turn. Olive’s behavior spirals, and Mom is left questioning the advice she trusted. We unpack the therapist’s mistake—failing to address the deeper "Control Battle" between Mom’s overinvolvement and Olive’s avoidance of responsibility. Tune in to learn why simply telling parents to "back off" can undermine family dynamics and discover how therapy can better support teens and parents in fostering true independence. A must-listen for parents navigating the challenges of raising teenagers!