Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

Short, sharp scenes of middle school social life: why meanness and exclusion emerge as kids jockey for belonging. Clear lines between bullying and ordinary conflict are drawn. Rumor-spreading and freezing bystanders get explained. Practical ways to help a child exit a bad friendship and to soothe the sting of being dumped are explored.

Parents wrestling with a teen obsessed with selfies and mirrors will find practical talk about when appearance focus becomes worrying. The conversation covers suggestive posting, removing phones from bedrooms, and clear rules for social media. A memorable lakes-and-tributaries metaphor shows how to broaden self-worth. Listeners get ready-to-use phrasing for redirecting compliments toward inner qualities.

A parent discovers their teen has been turning off location sharing and the hosts unpack the tug-of-war between privacy and peace of mind. They explore what tracking is really about, why teens resist, and when monitoring might be justified. Practical negotiation strategies and compromise options are offered to protect safety without damaging relationships.

Dr. Jonathan B. Singer, a leading expert in youth suicide prevention and co-author of Suicide in Schools, joins to discuss teen depression and suicide in 2026. He explains changing national and local trends. He covers warning signs, how to ask directly about self-harm, online language and monitoring limits, safe use of AI, and reasons for cautious hope.

Is your teen too obsessed with their girlfriend or boyfriend? Constant texting, ditching friends, and living on their phone. Perhaps you're watching them disappear into this relationship and you don't know what to do. If you're worried your teen's relationship is too intense and wondering how to talk to them about healthy balance without pushing them away, this episode is for you. Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan tackle a question from a mom whose high school son is texting his girlfriend 24/7, barely seeing his friends anymore, and disappearing onto what Lisa calls a "relationship island." Sound familiar? If you're wondering how to manage your teen's dating relationship without making things worse, or you're seeing your teen losing friends because of their relationship, this episode is for you. 💡 IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL DISCOVER: - Why today's teen relationships are more consuming than the ones we had - The real danger: Why teen isolation from friends is the biggest risk - Where you actually have power as a parent - The #1 mistake that backfires every time - What to say (and NOT say) when the relationship ends and your teen is devastated ________________ Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges.  Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. ________________ Episode keywords: teen relationship too intense, teenage son has girlfriend, teen spending too much time with girlfriend, teen ignoring friends for girlfriend, how to talk to teen about intense relationship, teen relationship healthy balance, high school relationship advice, teen losing friends because of relationship, teen constant texting girlfriend, managing teen dating relationships Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

They unpack when teen snark is normal attitude versus a possible sign of depression. They highlight irritability across settings, the role of sleep and phone use, and how family dynamics and younger siblings can be affected. Practical first steps and when to seek professional help are also covered.

What would YOU do if you discovered your tween or teen was reading explicit fan fiction online? Today’s kids are often learning about sexuality through the internet, often long before parents realize it. How you respond can either shut down communication or open the door to thoughtful, values-based conversations that actually stick. In this episode of Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens, clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan tackle a question many parents are asking: Should we be worried about our kids reading explicit fan fiction?  💡 YOU’LL LEARN: - Why reading explicit fan fiction can be a common, developmentally typical form of exploration - How to talk with your teen about sexual content without shaming or lecturing - How to share your family’s values around healthy intimacy in ways teens can hear - When (and how) to set boundaries without damaging trust - The surprising upsides of fan fiction If you’re feeling confused, uneasy, or unsure about what your kid is encountering online, this episode offers calm, practical guidance to help you stay connected and parent with confidence. ________________ Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges.  Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. ________________ Episode keywords: teens, fan fiction, explicit content, family communication, online safety, romantasy Podcast keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

Kids dreaming of influencer fame are discussed alongside rising school disengagement and failing grades. The conversation covers when influencer ambitions become risky and how to tether kids back to school with activities, limits on device use, and realistic consequences. Strategies for neurodivergent children and ways to turn influencer skills into useful school-related abilities are explored.

A teenage request for another piercing sparks a wider talk about boundaries, autonomy, and identity. Conversation covers cultural norms, practical consequences of piercing locations, and why some choices feel urgent to teens. Listeners hear about using waiting to preserve healthy tension, an empathy exercise to resolve stalemates, and guidance on sensible compromises.

Today's teens grapple with studying amidst constant tech distractions. The hosts explore whether multitasking helps or hinders learning, revealing surprising insights about self-interruptions and study environments. They discuss how music can either aid or obstruct focus and challenge the notion that good grades always indicate deep understanding. Practical tools, like timers and Chrome extensions, are recommended to improve concentration. Parents are encouraged to adopt a respectful and strategic approach to support their teens while navigating these modern challenges.