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When teens feel overwhelmed by big emotions, their behavior can become confusing—and sometimes frightening—for parents. In this episode, we’re joined by therapist Katie May to unpack what’s really happening beneath high-risk behaviors like self-harm, emotional shutdown, and reactivity. Together, we explore how these behaviors often serve as coping strategies, not attention-seeking, and why understanding the “why” behind them is key to helping your teen.

We also break down the difference between self-harm and suicidality, the role of validation in building trust, and practical ways parents can respond without making things worse. If you’ve ever felt unsure how to support your struggling teen, this conversation will give you clarity, language, and a path forward.

About Katie
Katie K. May is a licensed therapist, author, speaker, and group practice owner. She founded Creative Healing, a multi-location teen support center in the Philadelphia area, and wrote the #1 Amazon best-seller You’re On Fire, It’s Fine. With lived experience as a teen who turned to self-harm, Katie is one of only 11 Linehan ("Lynn-uh-hayn") Board Certified DBT Clinicians in Pennsylvania, the gold standard treatment for self-harm and suicidal behaviors. She equips parents and clinicians with practical, trauma-informed tools to decode behavior as survival and create lasting change.

Contact: [email protected]

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This podcast is educational in nature and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental-health care.