Teen Girls: A Crash Course

Conflict, communication, and connection with your daughter

by Lucie Hemmen, Ph.D.

Cutting to Cope Part Two

"Molly’s mom found out about Molly’s self-cutting one day upon encountering her daughter emerging from the shower. Even though Molly chose to cut on her belly and upper thighs as an attempt to keep her behavior an absolute secret, a chance meeting in the bathroom revealed her behavior." Dr. Lucie Hemmen discusses ways to identify and treat cutting behavior in teens. Read More

Stressed Out Teen Girls: Cutting to Cope

While self-harming is not a new phenomenon, cutting is showing a disturbing rise in popularity. Eager to please, overly stressed teen girls are at risk. Read More

Teen Girls Displaying an Interesting Adaptation

In our culture at a time when very little is sacred, girls are making a personality adaptation that protects them. Our girls are getting crustier. Read More

Teen Girls: Nibbling to Separate

As a young intern, I once heard my supervisor describe mothering teen girls as being similar to getting “nibbled to death by minnows”. Pre-motherhood, I didn’t really get it. Read More

Teen Girls and the Practice of Non-Reactivity

Even if you’re the calmest person and parent on earth, there’s a good chance you’ve lost your cool with your teen daughter. With her unpredictable moods and a proclivity to regard you as the gum she just stepped in, you may feel challenged on a daily basis. Read More

Powerful Girls

You may think your teen daughter asserts an exasperating amount of power with you, as in Pit Bull—not Chihuahua. My youngest teen daughter asserted her power very effectively just yesterday, resulting in a Zappos order for obscenely high wedge sandals, apparently a must-have item for middle school graduation. Read More

Parenting Teen Girls

It’s not easy being a teen girl and not easy parenting one. More than previous generations, today’s teen girls face a daunting range of stressors that put them at risk for serious issues including self-harming behaviors, substance abuse, eating disorders, anxiety and depression. Read More