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Teenagers are drowning in noise, and most of them don’t have the brain bandwidth or life experience to sort it all out yet. From the SBC 2026 exhibit hall, we talk with Dr. Kristen Kellen about what it looks like to counsel teens faithfully when anxiety, comparison, and overwhelm feel like the background music of adolescence.

If you've ever wondered:
"Am I doing enough for struggling students?"
"When should I listen...and when should I refer?"
"How do I help teenagers who feel anxious all the time?"
...this conversation is for you.

We get specific about emotional health and why it can’t be separated from the rest of life. Sleep, food, hydration, exercise, and screen time matter more than we want to admit, especially for developing bodies and brains. Then we challenge a popular idea that quietly shapes teen culture: the belief that emotions are authoritative and binding. Dr. Kellen gives language that protects kids from shame while still giving them agency, helping them move from “I feel anxious, so I am anxious” to “I’m experiencing anxiety, and I can respond wisely.”

For youth pastors and youth leaders, we dig into the difference between helping a student feel better in the moment and helping them become healthy over time. We talk modeling emotional regulation, naming feelings without being ruled by them, and using practical steps that build resilience. We also explore suffering and spiritual maturity, why Scripture assumes hardship, and how patience and the fruit of the Spirit grow through repeated practice, not instant change. If you’ve wanted a clearer framework for Christian counseling and pastoral care with teens, this conversation will give you traction.

We talk about why so many teenagers feel overwhelmed and how we can respond with wisdom instead of panic. We lay out practical ways to help students name their feelings, build agency, and grow toward long-term health and spiritual maturity. 

In This Episode

• Why so many teenagers feel overwhelmed today
• The relationship between brain development and emotional maturity
• Why feelings are real—but shouldn't become our authority
• Helping students become healthy instead of simply helping them feel better
• Simple counseling principles every youth pastor can practice
• Why modeling emotional regulation matters more than having all the answers
• Building spiritual resilience instead of instant relief
• The role suffering plays in Christian maturity
• How youth ministry can become a "laboratory" for practicing the Fruit of the Spirit
• Knowing when to partner with parents, counselors, and mental health professionals
• Why your faithful presence matters more than you realize

Quotes

• "If we always focus on the fix, students may never learn the skill."
• "Teenagers don't just need answers—they need adults who model healthy faith."
• "Youth ministry is a long game played inside a very short season."
• "Don't underestimate the ministry of simply being present."
• "Our goal isn't just to remove suffering—it's to help students meet Christ in the middle of it."

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