Parenting Post-Wilderness: Parenting a Struggling Teen Before, During and After Treatment

133. When to Step Back: The Power of Disengaging for Healthy Communication with Your Teen or Young-Adult

Beth Hillman | Parent Coach for Parents of Struggling Teens | & Seth Gottlieb Episode 133

Do you ever find yourself stuck in a conversation that’s going in circles, desperately trying to find a resolution? It’s natural to want closure, but sometimes, the healthiest thing you can do is step back. In this episode, Seth and I explore how disengaging can actually strengthen healthy communication with your teen rather than shutting it down.

When emotions run high, it can be difficult to recognize when a conversation is no longer productive. As parents, we often enter discussions with our teens with an agenda, wanting to fix a behavior or push for change. But if your teen isn’t on the same page, the conversation can quickly become frustrating for both of you. Instead of seeking to be heard, what if we focused on understanding and connection instead?

“If I don’t want to listen to the person, the conversation is not going to go well.” - Seth Gottlieb

In this episode, we discuss how healthy communication with your teen isn’t about pushing harder but about knowing when to pause, reset, and approach conversations with more awareness and intention.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in an argument or frustrated by going in circles, this episode will give you the tools to step back, create space, and improve communication with your teen in a meaningful way.

In this episode on the power of disengaging for healthy communication with your teen, we cover:

  • How to recognize when a conversation with your teen isn’t going anywhere;
  • The impact of entering a discussion with an agenda;
  • How to increase self-awareness and shift to understanding rather than control;
  • Practical ways to disengage in a way that strengthens, rather than harms, your relationship or family dynamics;
  • What to ask your teen to foster healthy communication and more open, productive conversations;
  • And more!


Looking for support?
🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.com

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And remember parents, the change begins with us.

People on this episode