Adolescents, Explained

Stress

Teen Anxiety and the Dangers of Doomscrolling

David Schwartz LMFT on March 31, 2026

When teens turn to social media to reduce their stress, they may find themselves bombarded with negative content. This negativity can cause uncertainty and a lack of focus.

When teens turn to social media to reduce their stress, they may find themselves bombarded with negative content. This negativity can cause uncertainty and a lack of focus.

Adolescence

Your Defiant Teen Might Be More Insecure Than You Realize

David Schwartz LMFT on January 25, 2026

When teenagers push against family boundaries, parents often become emotionally reactive. While teens can be difficult, and even defiant, they may not be as secure as they seem.

When teenagers push against family boundaries, parents often become emotionally reactive. While teens can be difficult, and even defiant, they may not be as secure as they seem.

Parenting

How to Break the Cycle and Become a More Positive Parent

David Schwartz LMFT on November 29, 2025

Staying clear, choosing words, and maintaining effectiveness.

Staying clear, choosing words, and maintaining effectiveness.

Adolescence

Don’t Let Your Teenager Ruin Your Marriage

David Schwartz LMFT on October 13, 2025

Teenagers can cause stress in the family. It's important that parents don't let the difficulties they face with their teens harm their marriage.

Teenagers can cause stress in the family. It's important that parents don't let the difficulties they face with their teens harm their marriage.

Parenting

Teens and Finances: What They Need to Know

David Schwartz LMFT on October 6, 2025

Many parents don't talk with their teens about finances. This can put kids at a real disadvantage. Understanding ways to create financial stability can be a valuable asset.

Many parents don't talk with their teens about finances. This can put kids at a real disadvantage. Understanding ways to create financial stability can be a valuable asset.

Adolescence

Hire a Teenager While They Still Know Everything

David Schwartz LMFT on September 1, 2025

Trying to instruct a teenager on how to do something can be a frustrating experience. Hopefully, it can be less frustrating if we recognize it may be part of their emotional growth.

Trying to instruct a teenager on how to do something can be a frustrating experience. Hopefully, it can be less frustrating if we recognize it may be part of their emotional growth.

Adolescence

How to Accept Our Teens and What They Explore

David Schwartz LMFT on July 30, 2025

Teenagers spend a lot of time establishing their own identities. Parents can feel threatened when their teen's views are not aligned with theirs. Acceptance may be the answer.

Teenagers spend a lot of time establishing their own identities. Parents can feel threatened when their teen's views are not aligned with theirs. Acceptance may be the answer.

Boundaries

Your Child Is Not Your Therapist

David Schwartz LMFT on June 16, 2025

When we vent our fears and frustrations to our children, they can become emotionally overwhelmed. This can threaten their sense of security and safety in the family.

When we vent our fears and frustrations to our children, they can become emotionally overwhelmed. This can threaten their sense of security and safety in the family.

Adolescence

Is Your Teen Really the Problem?

David Schwartz LMFT on May 23, 2025

While teenagers can certainly be difficult, they are not always the cause of problems in the family. Sometimes they are blamed for difficulties between their parents.

While teenagers can certainly be difficult, they are not always the cause of problems in the family. Sometimes they are blamed for difficulties between their parents.

Confidence

Your Child’s Superpower Is an Understanding of Commitment

David Schwartz LMFT on April 5, 2025

When children and teens understand the value of being able to make commitments and follow through on them, it can help develop their confidence and self-esteem.

When children and teens understand the value of being able to make commitments and follow through on them, it can help develop their confidence and self-esteem.

Parenting

Empowering Children to Resolve Their Own Issues

David Schwartz LMFT on February 2, 2025

Parents are often quick to step in to resolve issues for their children. Sometimes it might be in the child's best interest to deal with these situations themselves.

Parents are often quick to step in to resolve issues for their children. Sometimes it might be in the child's best interest to deal with these situations themselves.

Divorce

Getting Divorced? 7 Ways to Help Your Child Through It

David Schwartz LMFT on December 2, 2024

Marriages sometimes end. When they do, children can be severely impacted. Here are 7 ideas to help make it a little easier for them to cope with this shift in their lives.

Marriages sometimes end. When they do, children can be severely impacted. Here are 7 ideas to help make it a little easier for them to cope with this shift in their lives.

Parenting

Home Is Where the Hatred Starts

David Schwartz LMFT on October 19, 2024

When we show a lack of empathy for people different from us, our children may be internalizing the messages we send. Do we really want to raise them to be intolerant of others?

When we show a lack of empathy for people different from us, our children may be internalizing the messages we send. Do we really want to raise them to be intolerant of others?

Parenting

What Happened to Parental Authority?

David Schwartz LMFT on October 10, 2024

Children often challenge parents to try and get their way. When parents maintain their authority and provide clear boundaries for children, it can be in everybody's best interest.

Children often challenge parents to try and get their way. When parents maintain their authority and provide clear boundaries for children, it can be in everybody's best interest.

Social Media

Kids and Social Media Overload

David Schwartz LMFT on August 25, 2024

Social media never stops. It's easy for a child to start spending more and more time on the internet. Parents can help establish guidelines for their child's online activities.

Social media never stops. It's easy for a child to start spending more and more time on the internet. Parents can help establish guidelines for their child's online activities.

Motivation

The Importance of Mentors for Kids and Teens

David Schwartz LMFT on July 18, 2024

Supportive adults and mentors can be vital in helping children develop confidence in themselves.

Supportive adults and mentors can be vital in helping children develop confidence in themselves.

Education

Smartphones at School? Not Even a Close Call

David Schwartz LMFT on July 1, 2024

Having smartphones at school can be a distraction that gets in the way of the educational process.

Having smartphones at school can be a distraction that gets in the way of the educational process.

Parenting

Are You Mad at Your Kids, or Mad at Your Parents?

David Schwartz LMFT on May 7, 2024

When parents get emotionally caught by unresolved traumatic experiences, it can compromise their parenting decisions.

When parents get emotionally caught by unresolved traumatic experiences, it can compromise their parenting decisions.

Motivation

Who's Responsible for a Child's Success in School?

David Schwartz LMFT on April 2, 2024

When a child is struggling in school, parents have choices. They can work with their child, or they can blame the school and teachers. Which is more effective?

When a child is struggling in school, parents have choices. They can work with their child, or they can blame the school and teachers. Which is more effective?

Burnout

Avoiding Parental Burnout

David Schwartz LMFT on March 4, 2024

There are times when parenting can be overwhelming. To prevent parent burnout, it's important to recognize we are not perfect and take the time we need to make our best decisions.

There are times when parenting can be overwhelming. To prevent parent burnout, it's important to recognize we are not perfect and take the time we need to make our best decisions.