TPP 337: Phyllis Fagell on Raising Resilient Teens in Turbulent Times

This week I’m bringing back school counselor, therapist, and author Phyllis Fagell to talk about her new book Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times which she wrote as a response to what she is seeing in her work with children in the aftermath of COVID. 

During this interview, we talked about why this generation of tweens is more insecure, vulnerable, and eager to please perhaps than past generations, effective strategies for helping kids who might be rigid thinkers become more flexible, and how parents can coach their kids around navigating, forming and maintaining healthy friendships. 

Phyllis L. Fagell, LCPC is the school counselor at Sheridan School in Washington, DC, a therapist who works with children and teens in private practice, and an author and journalist. She is the author of Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond – and How Parents Can Help and her most recent book, Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times. 

Things you'll learn from this episode

Why this generation of tweens is more insecure, vulnerable, and eager to please than past generations

How to help kids who might be rigid thinkers to become more flexible

What Phyllis is seeing in how kids are connecting and finding a sense of belonging in the post-pandemic era

How parents can coach their kids around navigating, forming, and maintaining healthy friendships

What the “magic question is” and how to use it to support our kids in developing empathy 

How to navigate situations where our kids are seeking support from sources that may not be our first choice

Why it’s important to respect how our kids want to present their neurodiversity and other parts of their identities to the world

 Resources mentioned 

Phyllis Fagell’s website

Middle School Superpowers: Raising Resilient Tweens in Turbulent Times by Phylls Fagell

Middle School Matters: The 10 Key Skills Kids Need to Thrive in Middle School and Beyond — and How Parents Can Help by Phyllis Fagell

Phyllis Fagell on Twitter

Phyllis Fagell on Instagram

Phyllis Fagell on Facebook

Phyllis Fagell on LinkedIn

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