Have you and your teen or young adult been at each other’s throats lately? Maybe they want more freedom, but you feel like they’ve been doing a lot of things that you don’t agree with and need to be kept even MORE under your control. It’s time to let a therapist step in and help your relationship. I can help you understand what’s going on in your young person’s brain, and I can help them figure out what’s behind their behavior in a safe and confidential setting. Maybe you know it’s substance use because you’ve discovered drugs or alcohol in their room, or they’ve been caught using at home or at school. I can give you concrete steps to take to manage the situation at home, and at the same time, I can work with your young person on understanding their relationship with substances. I encourage parents with teenagers to hurry and confront a substance use issue head on—it becomes more difficult to intervene once a child is over 18 and can legally make their own decisions. I have many parents who wish they had started sooner!

Even if the issue isn’t related to substances, it’s no fun to be in conflict with your young person. Sometimes it takes an outside person to take a look at the situation and help you figure out how to move forward towards a more productive and healthier relationship. I’ve helped many parents better connect with their teens and young adults, so don’t delay—help is on the way!