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.

Celebrated journalist Jennifer Wallace addresses performance mindset and toxic stress

On August 29th, the Glenbard Parent Series hosted Jennifer Wallace, investigative journalist and author for a program titled Never Enough: Inspiring Balanced Achievement, Self-Confidence and the Power of Mattering. Wallace is the author of "Never Enough.”  Wallace was in conversation with former GPS speakers Lori Gottlieb at noon and Julie Lythcott-Haims at 7pm.

Today's students face unprecedented pressure to succeed, and they are absorbing the cultural message that their value is based on accomplishments. Wallace provides a toolkit for positive change and a practical framework to help young people understand they are inherently valued and loved. She offers tips to enhance kids’ resilience, self-confidence and psychological security so they can thrive. 

Wallace is a celebrated journalist, formerly with 60 Minutes, and author of the book “Never Enough: When Achievement Pressure Becomes Toxic – and What We Can Do About It.” 

Click HERE for a recording of the program with Jennifer Wallace in conversation with Lori Gottlieb and a Q&A with Julie Lythcott-Haims

Take Away

DuPage County Regional Office of Education Superintendent Amber Quirk co-hosted the event and shared the following takeaway quotes from the speakers:

 "The best thing we can do for our children is take care of our own wellbeing. Never worry alone, rather, have a 'go to' committee for yourself. Strive to be a good enough --not perfect — parent.

 As we check in with kids at the end of a school day, lead with, ‘What did you have for lunch?’ to send a subtle signal that we see them as more than a number, grade or performance. Schedule stressful conversations so they are not happening daily (e.g., grades or college preparation). Talk about the difference between healthy and unhealthy competition. We want our kids to focus on wise striving, and we need to normalize difficult feelings. Share your own failure stories to build connections.

Encourage volunteerism and gratitude to give the child a deeper sense of mattering, and teach healthy interdependence by letting them know you can work together on difficult issues. Make your home a 'mattering haven' where children feel they matter outside the exterior recognitions or achievements. Then, help them shift their lens outward to find ways to make others feel valued as well.”

Resources

Visit Wallace's website

View the Mattering Movement website

Read "Forget independence. Tech your kids this instead.," Wallace's Aug. 14, 2023 op-ed for the Washington Post

Watch Wallace's Aug. 24, 2023 appearance on Good Morning America

Watch or listen to Wallace's Aug. 22, 2023 appearance on the Ask Lisa podcast, hosted by Lisa Damour, Ph.D. (FAN '19, '20, 21, '23)

Read "The Power of Mattering at Work," Wallace's Dec. 1, 2022 essay for the Wall Street Journal

Watch Wallace's Aug. 22, 2023 appearance on CBS Mornings

Read an August 30 interview with Wallace published in Greater Good Magazine

Visit Julie Lytchcott-Haim's website 

Visit Lori Gottlieb's website