Rules for talking to your teen
If you find it challenging to connect with your teenager, Josh Emery shares tips to talk to your teen”
1. Validate them – “It sounds like you’re feeling …”
2. Ask them if they would like any support from you
3. Give them a hug or some available form of physical touch.
4. Ask them if they need space to process
5. Say something like, “I am sorry you have to go through this, I believe you can make it though.”
Find more helpful resources from our blog posts made specfically for your teen:
Midlife Crisis, Midlife Unraveling or Midlife Value’s Clarification? | Bree Emery
A midlife crisis is generally defined as a transition of identity and self-confidence that can occur in middle-aged individuals. The phenomenon is described as a psychological crisis brought about by events that highlight a person's advancing age, inevitable...
What Qualities Should I Look For in My Child’s Therapist?
Whenever I am asked a question about what I do for work outside of my professional space, I have found a consistent question from parents of, “Where might I start to look for a therapist for my child?” Professionally, here are some themes that I believe to be...
Blog for Introverts | Bree Emery
A person who is introverted is quiet because they are observing and internally processing before they interact.
When Perfect Isn’t Good Enough: Strategies for Coping with Perfectionism | Julia Schafer | Emery Counseling
Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword. While having high standards can be motivating, an obsession with perfection can lead to stress, anxiety, and a constant fear of failure. Let’s uncover the complexities of perfectionism, its impact on mental well-being, and...
The Problem of Technological Punishments in Parenting Teens | Chris Roland | Emery Counseling
Taking your teen’s phone away isn’t always the answer. Typically, I do not advocate for a teenager to completely lose access to their phone and/or computer as a consequence for a disciplinary measure. It can alter behaviors out of compliance, but this can...
The Markings of Your Hometown | Chris Roland | Individual Counseling
“I take an out of the way drive in and around the north side of town where the smoke from hell’s exhaust pipe lingers above the cheap rent in the dark night.” These are the words that still ring in my soul from my time in Marshalltown, Iowa. 25 years later, I still...
November Is The Month To Reach Out | Emery Counseling | Chris Roland
November is the month to reach out to your lost connections, or even to the folks that you are confident know that you are present in their lives. We have darker days ahead and the cold of winter is coming. Men, how often do we validate one another? How often do we...
The Beauty within Vulnerability | Self-Worth Counseling | Fort Collins | Emery Counseling
When we think of the word vulnerability, it can feel quite jarring. What does it look like when we let our guards down and show a deeper side to ourselves that we may keep close to the chest? To be vulnerable is to open doors into our truest selves and show others,...
Exploring Youth Suicide & Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: What Parents Should Know | Therapy Fort Collins Colorado
Youth suicide is a very heavy topic that has touched the lives of many. It creates a severe rupture within whole communities, and at times can feel too much to bear. As mental health professionals, we want to protect and prevent youth from risk of suicide. In order...
Dangers Of Summer | Chris Roland | Therapist in Northern Colorado
What a strange title. There can’t be any dangers of summer in Northern Colorado, right? Summer can be an amazing time filled with relational connectivity, reconnecting with lost passions or discovering new ones, and a renewed sense of adventure and curiosity! Some...