Parenting Post-Wilderness: Parenting a Struggling Teen Before, During and After Treatment

You want the best for your teen. You want them to succeed, make good choices, and build a life they can be proud of. But what happens when the expectations you have for your child start to feel like pressure to them?

If you’re anything like me, you might be thinking right now, “But I don’t expect my kid to become a doctor!” And neither did I. But parental expectations and pressure can be much more subtle than that. Sometimes they show up in the activities we encourage, the questions we ask.  the future we picture for our kids, or even in our definition of what “success” should look like. I’ve had to look at this in my own parenting, too, and today’s conversation gave me plenty to think about.

In this episode, I’m joined by Justin Levine, who was once a struggling teen in treatment, dealing with severe anxiety and OCD while also trying to keep up with the expectations he felt around school, running, and his future. Today, he works as a coach and mentor for teens and young adults, helping them build confidence, independence, and a sense of purpose.

Justin gives us something I think every parent of a struggling teen can benefit from hearing: the perspective of the kid who was actually living it.

We talk honestly about parental expectations and pressure and how difficult it can be to tell the difference between encouraging your teen and unintentionally taking over the steering wheel of their life.

For Justin, one of the biggest turning points came when he realized that some of the goals he was working toward weren’t actually his own. His experience offers a powerful perspective for parents: sometimes, giving your teen more ownership doesn’t mean giving up on them. It may be exactly what allows them to finally find their own motivation.

We also talk about what can happen when a teen enters treatment without truly being ready to engage in the work, why simply “checking the boxes” isn’t the same as changing, and how family dynamics can contribute to disconnection on both sides.

If you’ve ever felt afraid of what might happen if you loosen your grip a little, this conversation offers a perspective you’ll want to hear.

In this episode on parental expectations and pressure, we discuss:

• How anxiety, perfectionism, and OCD can hide behind high achievement
• Why your teen’s behavior may not tell you the whole story of what’s happening internally
• When an activity that once brought your teen joy becomes another source of pressure
• The complicated dynamic that can happen when a parent is also a coach
• Knowing when to encourage your teen and when to step back
• Why simply “doing the work” in treatment doesn't necessarily mean your teen is ready to change
• The difference between completing treatment and actually engaging in the process
• How parental expectations can unintentionally create pressure and disconnection
• The importance of letting your teen develop goals that actually belong to them
• How Justin eventually repaired and strengthened his relationship with his parents
• The role a mentor can play between therapy, treatment, and everyday life
• How a trusted person outside the parent-child relationship can help a struggling teen move toward independence

More about Justin Levine

Justin Levine is the Founder and Head Coach of Strive to Thrive Coaching, a coaching practice dedicated to helping adolescents, emerging adults, families, and athletes build confidence, independence, and purpose. Justin's perspective is both professional and deeply personal. As a teenager, he attended wilderness therapy and residential treatment himself. That experience inspired him to return to the field—not as a client, but as a mentor, researcher, and clinician—eventually serving as Director of Neuro Health at Telos Residential Treatment Center before founding Strive to Thrive Coaching to provide the kind of support he wishes had been available after leaving treatment.

Learn more at → https://strivetothrivecoaching.org

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

You’re trying so hard to repair what’s been broken, to rebuild trust, and feel close again with your teen or young adult. So when they pull away, it can feel almost impossible to not try harder.

But what if trying harder to reconnect is actually making this very connection harder?

In this episode, Seth and I have a very honest conversation about rebuilding connection with your struggling teen or young adult, and how difficult it can be to practice what we teach when the person we love is the one who’s struggling.

Seth shares what it’s like to support a struggling family member and realize that, despite knowing all the “right” things to do, there are moments when there is simply nothing more within your control. We talk about the guilt that can come with that realization, the urge to fix things, and the painful truth that you can care deeply about someone without being responsible for their choices.

I also share a recent experience with my own son. After a difficult conflict, I found myself wanting to reach out, talk things through, and repair the relationship. But underneath my attempts to connect was something I didn’t initially recognize: anxiety. I had an agenda. I wanted him to open up, reconnect, and let me know what he was feeling.

Once I realized that, I was able to slow down, let go of what I thought should happen, and simply be present with him.

And something surprising happened: when I stopped pushing for connection, he began moving toward it himself.

Rebuilding connection with your struggling teen doesn’t necessarily mean finding the perfect words or having the perfect conversation. Sometimes, it means creating enough safety for your teen to come toward you in their own time and in their own way.

In this episode on rebuilding connection with your struggling teen or young adult, we discuss:

• Why trying harder to connect can sometimes create more distance
• The difference between offering connection and trying to make someone connect with you
• How guilt can make you feel responsible for another person’s choices
• What it really means to “hold space” for your teen or young adult
• Why safety requires letting go of judgment and your agenda
• How your energy, tone, and way of being can affect connection
• Why slowing down can be more helpful than pushing for a conversation
• How connection can look different for you and your child
• Recognizing the small ways your teen may already be reaching for connection
• Why accepting what your teen or young adult is able to give right now can help rebuild trust and connection
• The importance of noticing your own patterns and emotional reactions
• Why rebuilding connection takes time, practice, and plenty of imperfect moments

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

What happens when your teen leaves treatment, goes to college, and suddenly has more freedom than they’ve had in years? For Harrison Paletta, the answer wasn’t a straight line, and his story is an important reminder that relapse after treatment doesn’t mean everything has been lost.

In Part 2 of Harrison’s story, he takes us through the college years that followed residential treatment. In a way, college gave him exactly what he had been missing: close friendships, a sense of belonging, independence, good grades, and a life that felt exciting and normal again. But that freedom also came with drinking, smoking weed, experimentation with other substances, and eventually two arrests and a suspension from school.

For parents, it can be hard to make sense of this kind of journey. Your teen may be doing well in some areas while struggling significantly in others. They may make progress, then make choices that scare you. They may relapse after treatment and still go on to build a meaningful, successful life.

Harrison’s story offers a candid look at what relapse after treatment can actually look like and why a setback doesn't necessarily mean your teen is back where they started.

He also shares what happened next: how his parents responded, the natural consequences he experienced, how he eventually returned to college, and why he ultimately decided he needed a completely different environment after graduation. Today, Harrison uses his own experience to mentor young people coming out of treatment and preparing for the challenges of college and adulthood.

For parents, there’s an important message woven throughout his story: your teen’s progress may not be linear, and your job isn’t to keep your hands on the wheel forever. Sometimes, it’s about knowing when to step back, setting appropriate boundaries, and allowing your young adult to experience the consequences of their choices.

In this episode on relapse after treatment, we discuss:

• What happened when Harrison went to college after residential treatment
• How freedom, friendships, and college culture influenced his substance use
• Why relapse after treatment doesn't always look the way parents expect
• The surprising ways Harrison's friends supported him despite also partying with him
• How his parents approached him when they learned about his substance use
• Harrison's experience with two arrests and being suspended from college
• The natural consequences his parents set after he had to come home
• Why Harrison chose to return to college after his setback
• How his relationship with his parents changed as they learned to take their hands off the wheel
• What eventually led Harrison to leave New York and return to the treatment community that had helped him
• Why he now believes young people need support and mentorship after treatment. Not just while they're in it
• What parents can realistically expect from their teen's journey after treatment

More about Harrison Paletta

Around the age of 14, I began experimenting with weed and alcohol. By the age of 16, experimentation turned into daily use, and my behavior became completely unhinged. At 17, I was transported to a wilderness therapy program. Afterwards I was sent to a residential treatment center. Nine months later I went home and soon began falling into my old habits. Although my drug use escalated, I managed to get accepted into college. Things got worse there, and eventually I was arrested and suspended from school. 

After spending some time back home, I wanted to make a change and moved to Utah to pursue a healthy lifestyle. After making a major shift and embracing healthy living, I went back to work in the same residential treatment center I had been to as a kid. I returned to school to finish my undergrad studies and began my pursuing a master's degree in Social Work. 

Now, I share my story with the hope of uplifting the next generation of youth who are experiencing similar struggles.

You can contact Harrison for teen mentoring at [email protected] or by calling him at 914-648-0504.

Learn more about Life Strategy Mentors here.

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

What if you could sit down with your struggling teen and hear what was really going on inside their head? In this episode, Harrison Paletta gives us that rare perspective.

When Harrison was a struggling teenager, he was using substances, getting into trouble, pushing boundaries, and becoming increasingly disconnected from his parents. From the outside, it could have looked like he simply didn't care about the consequences. But from Harrison's perspective, there was so much more going on.

In this episode, Harrison joins me to share his story from the other side of the parent-teen relationship. He talks openly about what it felt like to be shamed and misunderstood, why he desperately wanted his parents to listen to him, and how feeling unheard contributed to an increasingly difficult family dynamic.

Harrison's story takes us through wilderness therapy, residential treatment, coming home, relapse, and eventually college. But what's especially powerful is hearing how his relationship with his parents changed along the way.

They didn't suddenly find the perfect response that made everything better. Instead, they gradually began changing the dynamic between them. They learned to listen, respond differently, allow Harrison to experience consequences, and perhaps most importantly, create enough trust for him to be honest about what was really happening.

In this episode on a struggling teen's perspective, we discuss:

• What Harrison wishes his parents had understood when he was struggling
• Why shame and punishment sometimes created more disconnection
• What “I don't care” actually meant for Harrison
• How feeling heard and respected changed his relationship with his parents
• Harrison's experience going to wilderness therapy and residential treatment
• The challenges of leaving treatment and returning home
• What happened when Harrison relapsed after treatment
• How honesty changed the dynamic between Harrison and his parents
• Why relapse doesn't necessarily mean your teen is back at square one
• The difference between controlling your teen and influencing them
• How Harrison's parents gradually shifted their approach
• Why mentorship can be so valuable for a struggling teen after treatment

More about Harrison Paletta

Around the age of 14, I began experimenting with weed and alcohol. By the age of 16, experimentation turned into daily use, and my behavior became completely unhinged. At 17, I was transported to a wilderness therapy program. Afterwards I was sent to a residential treatment center. Nine months later I went home and soon began falling into my old habits. Although my drug use escalated, I managed to get accepted into college. Things got worse there, and eventually I was arrested and suspended from school. 

After spending some time back home, I wanted to make a change and moved to Utah to pursue a healthy lifestyle. After making a major shift and embracing healthy living, I went back to work in the same residential treatment center I had been to as a kid. I returned to school to finish my undergrad studies and began my pursuing a master's degree in Social Work. 

Now, I share my story with the hope of uplifting the next generation of youth who are experiencing similar struggles.

You can contact Harrison for teen mentoring at [email protected] or by calling him at 914-648-0504.

Learn more about Life Strategy Mentors here.

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

You see old behaviors showing up again and your first thought is, “Oh no. Are we back here again?”. When you’ve worked so hard to support your struggling teen, a relapse, or even the return of an old pattern, can feel terrifying. Believe me, I know. It can bring back anxiety, urgency, and the instinct to jump in, fix things, or make sure everything is okay.

But relapse doesn’t mean that all the progress is gone. It doesn’t mean you’re back at square one.

In this episode, Seth and I have a deeply honest conversation about relapse, setbacks, and what happens when life gets messy again. I even share a very recent experience in my own family that brought old patterns back to the surface and reminded me that doing the work doesn’t create a life free from difficult emotions, conflict, or uncertainty.

Instead, the work gives you something much more valuable: the ability to recognize what’s happening, sit with discomfort, manage your own anxiety, and choose how you want to show up.

Because relapse is imminent in the sense that none of us are robots. Old patterns can resurface. Anger can show up again. Avoidance can return. Relationships can become difficult again. And when that happens, it doesn’t mean you’re back at square one.

It means you’re human.

In this episode on how relapse is imminent, we discuss:

• Why relapse and setbacks don’t mean that your previous progress has disappeared
• What happens when old patterns resurface in your family
• How your anxiety can influence a struggling teen who is already overwhelmed
• Why sometimes the most supportive thing you can do is give your teen space
• How shame and embarrassment can cause your teen to isolate
• The difference between being present for your teen and trying to rescue or fix them
• Why your problems may not disappear, but your ability to handle them can change
• How to recognize the difference between facts and the stories your anxious brain is creating
• What it means to witness your teen without needing them to change or repair immediately
• Why taking care of yourself is essential when you’re supporting a struggling teen

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

Prevention isn’t going to protect your child from seeing porn. You might think that if you set parental controls, keep devices out of bedrooms, and have the “right” conversations about online safety, you can protect your child from porn, but prevention simply isn’t enough.

The reality is that porn can find our kids long before we expect them to encounter it. (Jarrod even shares that the average age of the first encounter is 6!!) Sometimes it comes through a friend. Sometimes an algorithm puts it in front of them. And sometimes, they stumble across it without looking for it at all.

That can be a scary thought as a parent. You may worry about what your child is seeing, whether they're becoming exposed too young, or whether bringing up the subject will somehow introduce an idea they haven't encountered yet. You might also feel unsure about what to say, or even embarrassed to start the conversation.

In this episode, I’m joined by licensed professional counselor Jarrod Hoffman, who brings both professional experience and his own deeply personal experience with unwanted sexual behavior to this conversation. We talk openly about why shame can make it so difficult for kids to tell their parents what’s going on, and why our relationship with our kids can be one of the most important forms of protection we have.

We also talk about why blocking access and setting technology boundaries still matter, but they can't be the whole strategy. If exposure is inevitable, our goal has to be bigger than simply keeping the water out of the boat. We need to make sure our kids know that when something uncomfortable, confusing, or shame-filled happens, they can turn toward us rather than hide from us.

And that means talking to your kids about porn, not just once, but regularly, calmly, and in a way that leaves the door open for them to come back to you.

In this episode on talking to your kids about porn, we discuss:

• Why porn can find kids even when they're not actively looking for it
• How young kids can be exposed to porn and other sexualized content
• Why prevention and technology boundaries are helpful, but aren't enough
• The role of shame in keeping kids from talking to their parents
• Why connection is such an important part of protecting your child
• How to start talking to your kids about porn in a developmentally appropriate way
• Why these conversations need to happen repeatedly rather than just once
• How to create an ongoing invitation for your child to come to you if they need help
• What parents can learn from kids about the pull and power of sexual content
• How unwanted sexual behavior can be connected to deeper experiences of shame, pain, or disconnection
• Resources that can help you continue the conversation

More about Jarrod Hoffman

Jarrod is a licensed professional counselor. 
He believes that teens are resilient and that parents are valuable. 
He was a teenage boy himself from 2004-2011. 
He loves reading books and is still on the fence about Messi or Renaldo. 
He's experienced many life-changes like his parents divorce when he was 10 and his dad's death when he was 28. 
He strives to help others find healing from wounds and triumph through suffering.

You can contact Jarrod at [email protected]

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

Teaching emotional resilience isn't about making your teen's life easier. On the contrary. t's about helping them discover they're capable of handling life's hardest moments.

If you're parenting a struggling teen or young adult, that can feel almost impossible. Every setback, relapse, or difficult season can trigger fear, making it tempting to step in and protect your child from pain. But what if those challenges are exactly what help build the emotional resilience they'll need for the rest of their life?

In this episode, I'm joined again by clinical psychologist and parenting expert Dr. Jerry Weichman to explore what emotional resilience really looks like and how parents can foster it, even if their child is already a young adult. We discuss why resilience can be learned at any age, how overprotecting our children can unintentionally hold them back, and why setbacks or recidivism are often a normal part of lasting change.

Whether your child is currently in treatment, transitioning home, or finding their way after treatment, this conversation offers hope and practical guidance for navigating the ups and downs of recovery with greater confidence and trust.

In this episode on teaching your teen or young adult emotional resilience, we discuss:

• Why it's never too late to teach emotional resilience
• What prevents teens and young adults from developing resilience
• How parents model emotional resilience through their own behavior
• Why protecting your child from every struggle can backfire
• The role of adversity in building confidence and resilience
• Why setbacks and recidivism are a normal part of recovery
• How to trust your teen while letting go of what you can't control
• The difference between influence and control in parenting
• Why community and honest conversations help parents build resilience too
• Resources from Dr. Jerry Weichman to support your family

More about Dr. Jerry Weichman

Dr. Jerry Weichman, PsyD, a clinical psychologist, adolescent mental health specialist, and parenting expert, is the founder and creator of Raising Families, a free-to-access platform and trusted go-to resource for pro-active parents that provides real-life tools, systems and solutions for navigating today’s most common mental health challenges impacting children and families. 

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

When your family is in crisis, the last thing you want to do is start the orientation process of finding support. You need help - ASAP. 

So that time when things feel a bit calmer, and your teen seems to be doing okay, might actually be the best time to build the support system they'll need for the road ahead.

In this episode, Seth Gottlieb joins me to explore why waiting until your family is in crisis often makes it harder to get the right help in place. We discuss the unique roles of therapists, mentors, and parent coaches, why they aren't interchangeable, and how creating a strong support system before problems escalate can make all the difference for both you and your teen.

If you're looking for support for parents of struggling teens, we’ll help you think beyond crisis management and toward proactive, long-term support. Whether your teen is returning home from treatment, resistant to therapy, or simply navigating a difficult season, building the right team early can create stronger relationships, better communication, and more sustainable progress.

In this episode on support for parents of struggling teens, we discuss:

• Why it's better to build support before your teen reaches a crisis
• The differences between therapists, mentors, and parent coaches
• How mentors help teens discover their own goals and build independence
• Why many teens respond differently to mentors than to therapists or parents
• When to introduce additional support during or after treatment
• How proactive support can reduce the likelihood of future crises
• Why parents often wait too long to ask for help, and how to recognize the signs sooner
• The importance of continuing support, even when things seem to be going well
• How parents can shift from crisis management to long-term growth and healthier family dynamics

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

Your teen’s behavior is never just that. They’re not lying because they want to, they’re not missing curfew because they want to annoy you, and they’re not pulling you into power struggles because they enjoy it. There’s always something underneath the behavior, so let’s try to understand.

As a parent, it's natural to react to the behavior that's right in front of you. After all, being lied to hurts. Anger feels personal. Deception feels like a betrayal. But when you stay focused on the behavior alone, you can miss what's happening underneath it.

In this episode, Seth and I explore how behaviors like lying, manipulation, anger, and avoidance are often protective strategies rather than the root issue. Because even when you've worked hard to become a calmer, safer parent, your teen may still struggle to be honest with you. Creating emotional safety doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a long game.

You'll also learn why you don't have to address every behavior in the moment, how timing can make all the difference, and how curiosity can open the door to deeper connection instead of another exhausting power struggle.

If you've ever wondered why your teen keeps repeating the same behaviors despite your best efforts, this conversation will help you look beyond the surface and respond with greater understanding and intention.

In this episode on what's behind your teen's behavior, we discuss:

• Why lying, anger, and other challenging behaviors are often symptoms, not the real problem.
• How to look beyond your teen's behavior to understand what's really going on.
• Why your teen may still hide the truth, even when you're working hard to create a safe relationship.
• The difference between reacting to behavior and responding with curiosity.
• How to avoid getting pulled into power struggles that distract from the real issue.
• Why timing matters when addressing difficult behaviors.
• Practical ways to create emotional safety and invite honest conversations with your teen.
• How patience and consistent connection can strengthen your relationship with your child over time.

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!

Receiving an ADHD diagnosis for your teen can bring a mix of relief, confusion, and a hundred new questions. What does it actually mean? How does ADHD show up beyond the stereotypes? And perhaps most importantly: how can you best support your teen without unintentionally making things harder?

In this episode, I'm joined by ADHD and executive functioning specialists Lisa Miller and Tatiana Guerreiro Ramos to unpack what every parent should know about parenting a teen with ADHD. We explore why ADHD looks different from one child to the next, why a diagnosis is only the beginning, and how understanding your teen's brain can completely change the way you parent.

Together, we talk about moving beyond shame and labels, recognizing the strengths that often come with ADHD, and making simple but powerful shifts that help your teen build confidence, self-awareness, and lifelong skills. As always, we come back to the idea that, parents, the change begins with us.

In this episode on parenting a teen with ADHD, we discuss:

• Why an ADHD diagnosis is only the beginning, not the full picture
• The different types and presentations of ADHD
• How ADHD often looks different in boys and girls
• The strengths and "superpowers" that can come with ADHD
• Why parents often receive a diagnosis with very little guidance
• How changing your own parenting approach can transform family dynamics
• The importance of emotional regulation and distress tolerance as a parent
• Why curiosity works better than criticism when your teen is struggling
• Practical questions that help teens build self-awareness and problem-solving skills
• How reducing friction can make everyday tasks feel more manageable
• Why apologizing to your teen can strengthen your relationship
• The value of meeting your teen where they are instead of where you think they should be

More about our guests:

Lisa Miller
Lisa is a certified Transformational Coach and Director of Classroom Matters, specializing in supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families. With over 20 years of experience in education, she helps people build executive function skills and achieve personal, professional, and academic goals.

Tatiana Guerreiro Ramos

As the other Director of Classroom Matters, Tatiana works alongside Lisa Miller as an educational advocate, consultant, and certified Transformational Coach.

Tatiana works with Bay Area schools and organizations to offer customized professional development for teachers and administrators to better support all students, especially those with learning differences. Tatiana also works closely with families to help them access support and services for their students at school through the 504 plan and IEP processes.

Looking for support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🧘Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass.

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at [email protected]

You can support the show by:

→ Leaving a review

→ Subscribing to the show

→ Sharing it with another parent!

And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🍁 Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 🍁

How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults.

Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups 
I hope to see you there!