How to Connect With a Teenager Who Has Shut You Out

If your teenager has completely shut you out, reconnecting starts with getting on their turf, not with another lecture.I'm Dr. Suzanne Simpson, and after thirty years working with teenagers, including five and a half years inside a youth psychiatric unit, here is what I know for certain: you cannot influence a child you do not connect with.In this episode, I break down how to reconnect with your teenager, starting with what most parents get wrong first, what taking initiative actually looks like, and why listening well matters more than having the right words.I spent a year asking twenty-five teenagers in a psychiatric unit what they needed most. It came down to this: they want to be pursued, not fixed.0:00 When your teenager shuts you out 0:47 What do they want to do 1:09 Where do they want to be 1:50 How are they feeling 2:31 The core parenting shift 2:59 What this is not 3:50 What 25 teenagers in a psychiatric unit taught me 4:48 Making time, even when it is hard 5:48 3 ways parents stop listening 7:24 Practical ways to show up 8:12 What happens when you get on their turf 10:11 You do not have to be perfectFind my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8JprFdrPA&list=PLi7xFsX7h7tdxBsVx38UIRVrvnCc_9IBWNew releases every second Monday 8:00 am PST.👉 Get the free guide "8 Ways to Get on Your Kids' Turf" at www.drsuzannesimpson.comConnect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsuzannesimpson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsuzannesimpson/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drsuzannesimpson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566148964209Please note that the contents of this website are not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. My scope of practice is as an educator, and this work is intended to provide information for educational purposes only. Testimonials of lived experiences are opinion only and have not been scientifically evaluated.