Tips for Communicating with Your Teen
Hi, Practice families!👋
As the school year winds down, many teens and their parents often find themselves carrying more than just final projects and deadlines. Alongside the excitement about what’s ahead, there’s often a quieter undercurrent: exhaustion, pressure, uncertainty, and emotions that don't always find their way into words. 😮💨
This season brings a lot of shifts — wrapping up final exams and projects, navigating changing friendships, thinking about summer plans, and, for some, starting to look ahead toward college or future goals... all while figuring out who they're becoming along the way. When so much is changing externally, it’s natural for communication at home to feel a little different too.
Teens may seem more private, harder to reach, or slower to open up. This doesn’t mean they don't need support. It means they’re learning how to hold more of their own inner world... and figuring out, moment by moment, when and how to share it.
Connection during times like these isn’t about finding the perfect advice. It’s about offering a steady, low-pressure presence that reminds them they’re not alone — even if the words are fewer, even if the path to connection looks a little different.
If this feels familiar in your home right now, here are a few ways to help keep those lines open with patience and care during this tender season.
💬 5 Ways to Stay Connected Through Communication
Shift from fixing to simply being present
When teens share something hard — or even just sigh loudly from the backseat — our instinct is often to help solve it. To offer advice, find a solution, or "make it better." But for many teens, what they need most is simply someone willing to listen without trying to fix.
Sitting with their frustration, uncertainty, or messy feelings... without judgment or fixing... shows trust. It tells them, "I believe you can navigate this. I’m here beside you."
Over time, that steady presence creates a foundation where real conversations can unfold.
Notice the small invitations to connect
Teens don’t always announce when they’re ready to talk. A conversation might begin with a casual comment while you’re cooking, a quiet question during a car ride, or a few extra minutes spent nearby when they might otherwise retreat.
When we stay attuned to these smaller openings — even when they seem fleeting — we send a bigger message: "You’re important. I’m paying attention."
Some of the most meaningful conversations don’t happen by planning. They happen when a parent notices the door cracking open... and chooses to walk through it gently.
Honor their experience before offering perspective
When a teen shares a worry about a test or a disappointment with a friend, it’s tempting to immediately reassure them: "You’ll be fine!" or "It’s not that big of a deal." But jumping too quickly to reassurance can leave them feeling unseen.
Starting with acknowledgment, like saying "It makes sense that feels heavy" or "I hear how much that mattered to you," creates space for their feelings to land first.
Often, once teens feel heard, they can begin to find their own perspective and strength. They don’t always need the feeling fixed — they need it respected.
Keep invitations to talk open and low-pressure
When a teen says "I don’t want to talk," it doesn’t mean they won’t want to later. A simple, low-pressure reminder, like "I'm around if you ever want to talk,” keeps the door open without pushing them.
When teens feel they have emotional space, not interrogation or urgency, they’re more likely to step through it when they are ready. The key is to offer... and then trust.
Respect their need for independence, even as you stay close
It’s natural for teens to crave more space, privacy, and control over their lives as they grow. And it’s just as natural for parents to feel the bittersweetness of that shift.
Respecting a teen’s independence doesn’t mean disappearing. It means staying present in ways that honor their growing need for choice. Small gestures, like offering options ("Would you rather talk after dinner or tomorrow?") or adjusting to their pace, send a clear message: "I trust you to know what you need."
When teens feel that trust, they are more likely to stay connected — not because they have to... but because they want to.
Warmly,
The Practice San Francisco Team
P.S. If you’d like to explore this topic a little more, we’ve gathered a few relevant reads on communication, emotional support, and resilience for teens:
Helping Your Teen Step Into a Leadership Role with Confidence 💪
As the school year wraps up, many teens are ready to step into more independence, but they also need the right tools to navigate the challenges that come with it.
Communication, empathy, leadership, and emotional insight aren’t just skills for college applications; they’re strengths that help teens thrive in friendships, communities, and future opportunities.
If you’re looking for a meaningful way to support your teen’s growth this summer, Peer Guide Academy might be a great fit.
PEER GUIDE ACADEMY - Peer Counseling Training Program*
5-Day Clinical Group
(For rising 9th-12th graders)
*Application required
San Francisco & Online
June-August
Hybrid program with in-person & remote learning
High school students will develop peer counseling, active listening, and leadership skills in this selective summer program led by a licensed psychologist. Through a mix of in-person and self-paced learning, participants will build empathy, communication, and problem-solving to support their peers. Graduates will receive a certificate of completion and may qualify for advanced peer counseling opportunities.**
**Applications close April 30, 2025. Selected participants will be notified in mid-May.
🌿 Life is a Practice
Even when it feels like your teen is pulling away, trust that your steady presence still matters.
The small moments, like a quiet ride home, a quick check-in, or a simple "I'm here if you need me," are never wasted.
You’re building something deeper than a single conversation.
You’re building trust, resilience, and connection that they will carry long after this season of change.
