Balancing Act: Parenting Troubled Teens with Boundaries and Compassion

Being a parent is hard, and when your child is having problems, it can feel like you're sailing through rough water. It's not easy to find a balance between the need for rules and discipline and the need to teach compassion and understanding. However, finding that balance is essential to ensure your teen has the tools they need to grow and be healthy.  At Liahona Academy, we’ve been helping parents and teens find their way for years with a multifaceted approach that focuses on finding the root of problems, such as defiance, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem, and offering techniques that help teens process their issues and make better choices. Our team is dedicated to providing each teen with their own personalized treatment plan to help them get back and stay on track. Along the way, we support parents by encouraging them to utilize our resources and create healthy and long-lasting relationships with their teens.  Continue reading to learn more about our team and ways to set limits with your teen while also showing kindness and understanding.

Communication Is the First Step

Open and effective communication is the key to a good relationship between you and your teen, especially when your teen is having problems. It’s essential to create a place where your teen feels safe and won't be judged and where they can talk about their feelings and thoughts. At the same time, it’s vital that you actively listen without talking over or giving solutions right away. This means that you should try to see things from their point of view, even if you don't agree with them, which can be difficult. However, this gives your teen the chance to be heard and, in turn, allows them to be more open when you do provide suggestions.

Offer Empathy

Being able to understand and share someone else's thoughts is called empathy. When your teen is having a hard time, showing that you understand and agree with them can help a lot. Let them know that you feel what they're feeling and that those feelings are okay. As mentioned above, this doesn't mean you have to agree with their actions, but you should understand and accept their feelings and problems. Ways to show empathy and understanding are detailed below:

• Be a good role model: Children often pick up from what adults do. Show your teen how to behave by being kind and understanding and using healthy ways to settle disagreements in your own relationships and exchanges.
• Encourage good behavior: It's important to remember to praise and reward good behavior. When your teen makes a good choice or behaves better, praise them. Giving them praise can encourage them to keep making progress. At the same time, if they falter, teach them to find the lesson rather than admonish them.
• Do not rush: Things can go wrong along the way to recovery or growth, but change takes time. When you're trying to help your teen, be patient and strong. Your steadfast dedication to their health and happiness will have a big effect.

Set Boundaries That Are Clear and Consistent

Once you’ve established open communication and empathy, it’s important to make progress toward healthy boundaries. Setting limits is important for your teen's safety and sense of order. Make it clear what you expect and what will happen if you don't follow through. It is very important to constantly enforce these limits without using punishments. Instead of punishing, the focus should be on setting rules and training. This also includes focusing on problem-solving, which might be a new concept for your team. Include your teen in conversations about how to solve problems, and when you can, encourage them to think of answers and consequences for what they did. This method gives them the freedom to own the decisions they make and teaches them useful skills for making choices.

Be Realistic and Find Support

In order to be realistic, you need to understand that your teen may be having problems that are affecting how they act and what choices they make. Depending on their age, stage of growth, and personal circumstances, you may need to change your expectations. Expectations that are too high can make both sides angry and frustrated. However, when their behaviors become dangerous, it’s time to widen your support system.  Sometimes, the teen problems require professional help. Our program offers different types of care, such as residential, day, and outpatient treatments, each of which is run by mental health professionals who are dedicated to ensuring your teen gets the help they need. We also have an academic program that ensures they stay on target and receive the credits they need to finish high school. We strive to offer the best educational opportunities in therapeutic care while also providing support for how your teen learns. In addition, our positive peer culture approach is therapeutic and empowering, allowing your child to make changes that last.

Contact Our Team For Support

Being a parent of a troubled teen is hard, but it's also a chance to grow and improve your relationship. You can give your child the support and direction they need during this important time in their life by setting clear limits and being kind and understanding. Don't forget that every kid is different and that there is no one way to help them all. You will make a difference in your difficult teen's life if you stay true to your role as a loving and helpful parent. Contact us today to gain additional support.