It can feel heartbreaking when your teenager pulls away, shows little interest in your life, or seems dismissive of family connections. This is a common experience for many parents,  and while it can feel personal, it’s often just part of healthy adolescent development.

In this episode, I talk through what’s happening for teens at this stage, and what parents can do to stay connected without pushing their kids further away.

You’ll hear about:

• Why teenagers turn toward peers and away from parents
• How to avoid taking their changes personally
• Moving from “manager” to “consultant” in your parenting role
• Why empathy is key (even when you disagree)
• The problem with angry pursuit and guilt-driven connection
• How to invite closeness without criticism
• Practical ideas for spending meaningful time together
• Why listening and curiosity matter more than fixing

This episode is all about finding ways to feel connected, even when your teen seems uninterested in you.

Resources:

• Submit a question for a future episode: https://forms.gle/6GJsNv9MeppUvw5j8 
• Connected Teens Program: https://marievakakis.com.au/connected-teens/  
• Grab my free ebook https://marievakakis.com.au/my-teen-wont-talk-to-me/

Connect with Marie

https://thetherapyhub.com.au/

https://marievakakis.com.au/

https://www.instagram.com/marievakakis/

Submit a question to the Podcast

https://forms.gle/nvNQyw9gJXMNnveY6

Mentioned in this episode:

Join me live Jan 28th for the Relationship New Year Reset