Helping Teens Find Their Voice with Gayle Alexander

In this episode of Teens to Titans, Lorraine Connell sits down with licensed professional counselor and clinical supervisor Gayle Alexander to discuss the growing mental health challenges facing today's teens and young adults. Drawing from both her personal story and over 20 years of experience working with adolescents and families, Gayle shares how anxiety, perfectionism, social media, and overprotection can impact a young person's ability to trust themselves and build resilience. Together, Lorraine and Gayle explore why today's teens are experiencing higher levels of anxiety than ever before, the importance of developing decision-making skills, and how parents can support their children without unintentionally taking away their voice. This conversation is packed with practical advice for parents, educators, and teens looking to navigate life's challenges with greater confidence and self-trust. In this episode, you'll learn: • Why resilience is more important than perfection • The difference between normal anxiety and clinical anxiety • How social media contributes to comparison and loneliness • Why teens need opportunities to make mistakes and learn from them • The importance of helping young people develop self-trust • How parents can create stronger connections through listening and vulnerability • Why community and peer support matter for teen mental health • Practical strategies for teens who feel unheard or misunderstood Connect with Gayle Alexander & Project SAFE: Instagram: @projectsafe4u IG Link Hub: linktr.ee/projectsafe4u Website: www.projectsafe4u.com If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a parent, educator, coach, or teen who could benefit from this conversation.