Becoming Self-aware: How to Help Teens Handle Their Emotions 
A teens emotions can be difficult for a parent to deal with, but the reality is that most people could benefit from emotional healing. If you want to promote self-esteem and avoid teen issues, you’ll need to address your own emotional health as well as your teen’s.
There are some things you can do as a family to promote emotional self-awareness. Teen issues don’t happen out of nowhere. While all teens will suffer some emotional turmoil due to the natural changes of adolescence and the pressures of school, there are ways to avoid serious problems.
1. Check in with the Family
There are many reasons why having dinner together each night as a family is a healthy practice. One of the most important is that it provides time to discuss how things are going. If you don’t sit down together, you might always find yourselves coming and going at odd times, eating in the privacy of your rooms, and paying more attention to your screens than you do each other.
Whether you can manage to pull off regular family dinners or not, try to set aside some time to sit and have a talk with your teen at least once a week.
2. Start Journaling
Asking your teen to consider starting a journal is a great way to help them become more self-aware. Let them know that their journal will remain private unless they choose to share certain passages with you. Journaling is an excellent way to deepen our connection with ourselves. You can start one as well, and then you and your teen can compare notes on what you’re learning from this practice.
3. Consider Counseling
If your teen is struggling, consider having them begin therapy. It’s quite common for people of all ages to partake in therapy these days, and beginning young can help a teen become more self-aware. A therapist may offer helpful tips on how to handle a teens emotions as well.
If you need dedicated time and space to connect with your teen and discuss important issues, a mother-daughter retreat might be the answer. I offer specialized retreats in beautiful Sedona, Arizona, where mothers and daughters can discuss their hopes, dreams, and fears in a safe and serene environment. Please contact me for more information.
