Dr. Lisa Damour discusses teens’ emotional lives at GPS event on September 13, 2023

On September 13 the Glenbard Parent Series hosted clinical psychologist and best-selling author Lisa Damour in a program based on her most recent bestseller "The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable and Compassionate Adolescents"

Powerful emotions come with the territory during adolescence. Damour shares what parents and caregivers can expect in the course of adolescent development and when it’s time to be concerned. Damour's advice provides care-givers: how to approach teen challenges such as friction at home, the pull of social media, risky behavior and navigating friendships; practical information to support teens through the transformational journey into adulthood; the best ways to stay connected and create the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want to be happy and healthy. 

Damour is the author of three New York Times bestsellers: “Untangled,” “Under Pressure,” and “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” She co-hosts the Ask Lisa podcast; works in collaboration with UNICEF; and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. 

Click HERE for the Q and A recording from the event.

Take Away

Glenbard District 87 Superintendent David Larson hosted the event and shared the following takeaway:

“Dr. Damour offered practical research based advise and helped us dispel pervasive myths on the psychology of adolescence.  Mental health is not about feeling good, it’s about having the right feelings at the right time and being able to manage those feelings effectively-observe what works best for your child.  Emotions in the teen years are powerful, and amplified  more than any other time of life. Dr  Damour explained why the intense feelings -even negative  ones- are an important part of teen development It’s our job to be a steady  (non-reactive) presence in the lives of children, which is not easy.  Be there to collect their ‘emotional garbage’.  The strongest force for mental health is a strong relationship with a caring adult. Offer empathy, give them autonomy, and be ready to talk when they are. The aim of our work is more about insight - we tend to breeze right past offering empathy and instead serve up reassurance. Tolerate their distress-they can’t tolerate it if we can’t tolerate it. This is how they grow".

Resources

Damour on WGN Radio, joining Jon Hansen, in for John Landecker HERE

Damour on CBS: The Emotional Lives of Teenagers” explains how adolescent feelings can be embraced and not avoided HERE

Lisa Damour Website HERE

Lisa Damour Podcast HERE

Discussion Guide for Parents HERE

Discussion Guide for Educators HERE

TIME magazine: How to Help Teenagers Stay Motivated at School by Damour HERE

FOLLOW Dr. Damour on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, the New York Times, CBS News, and subscribe to her podcast Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting.

READ Dr. Damour's NYT bestsellers Untangled and Under Pressure and pre-order her NEW BOOK The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.