Dr. John Duffy is a clinical psychologist, best-selling author and podcaster specializing in relationships, parenting, teens and families. Along with his clinical work, Dr. Duffy is the author of the number-one best-selling The Available Parent, and Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety.
Dr. John Duffy was also a guest speaker at DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team (PLT) monthly coalition meeting and shared great insight about the stress and anxiety our teens are facing today and some strategies to help them thrive.
Take-Aways from these presentations
Jordan Esser, Community Initiatives Coordinator for the DuPage County Health Dept. attended the event and shared the following takeaway:
” Dr. Duffy provided important insight into our teens growing anxiety, as a result of social media, a tumultuous political climate, social isolation and the uneasiness that a global pandemic can bring. Kids need unconditional positive regard-be that trusted adult that is ready to listen when teens need to vent. Light up when you see them, it can shift their sense of worth. Encourage teens to have a daily conversation with a friend, or relative to assist with their social skills. Take regular breaks from social media. We all need physical activity every day. Be sure you have someone to discuss your emotions with so you can be positive and give to others.. Be kind and gentle with yourself. Self-care is a priority and a necessity not a luxury.
Eric Johansen, Assistant Principal for Operations at Glenbard North High School attended and shared the following takeaway:
“My wife and I watched Dr. John Duffy last night on Parenting in the New Age of Anxiety. It was such a great opportunity for us as parents of soon-to-be teens to hear from an expert and gather some new ideas while reinforcing some parenting tips that may have gotten a bit lost, especially during our extra time together during the pandemic. These are some things that really resonated with us:
Take a look around your home and get a feel for the vibe. Is it too quiet, too loud, cluttered? This is something that is fully within our power. My wife and I need to set the tone in the one place that we can control it, our home. It needs to be a positive, orderly environment for our kids to spend their days and nights.
Regardless of how we are feeling as adults, the positive to negative ratio needs to always be tipping heavily on the positive side. Our kids are exposed to plenty of negative things so we need to be the positive presence that they can count on.
With our kids on screens for school, in addition to the time they may be on them for fun, getting our kids moving every day cannot be compromised. Moving, whether walking the dog, using exercise equipment you may have at home, etc. is vital to mood and mental well-being and will also have our kids away from screens, social media, etc. at the same time.
A big picture takeaway is just to be there for your child. My wife and I don't have to be child psychologists trying to help analyze and solve every problem our kids have. We just need to let them know that we are always there and will listen to what they have to say whether it is something they share for 2 minutes in the car on the way home from school, or something bigger that they need to talk through. We need to take what they are willing to share, when they are willing to share it, and always let them know that we love them and we have their back no matter what they have going on.
Resources
Take 5: Parent Video Preview – Dr John Duffy “Navigating our Child’s Disappointment”
Video of PLT Monthly Meeting with Dr. John Duffy, Clinical Psychologist
Your Teen Magazine Book Review for Parents: Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety
