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

149. Setting Healthy Boundaries With Your Teen Through Complaints and Pushback

Beth Hillman | Parent Coach for parents of struggling teens & Seth Gottlieb Episode 149

“You’re so controlling!” Did your kid ever tell you that?

If your teen or young adult constantly complains about your rules, expectations, or structure, saying that you’re controlling them, you're not alone. Many parents trying to set healthy boundaries with their teen end up questioning themselves the moment they face pushback. You want to listen, validate, and stay connected… but does that mean giving up on the structure your kid actually needs?

In this episode, Seth and I unpack the real-life tension between honoring your teen’s autonomy and holding firm to the healthy boundaries that keep your family grounded. We explore how to stay steady when your teen accuses you of being too controlling, and how to help them recognize their own agency, even when they’re frustrated.

Holding boundaries with a struggling teen is hard. Because yes, they will complain, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong.

In this episode on setting healthy boundaries with your teen, we discuss:

  • Why your teen might call structure “control”, and how to respond;
  • Ways to reinforce boundaries while still respecting your teen’s autonomy;
  • How to offer choice and accountability without giving up authority;
  • The role of deadlines, check-ins, and letting natural consequences play out;
  • Why your values matter more than avoiding conflict;
  • The power of listening without renegotiating everything;
  • How to shift from “nagging” to supportive accountability;
  • 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

You can support the show by:
Leaving a review
Subscribing to the show


And remember parents, the change begins with us.

People on this episode