June 13, 2023

By Lori Potter, MA, LCMHCS

We are going to begin passing along some of our most trusted resources, books, podcasts and leaders in the mental health field to clients and in the community. For the month of June, we are going to focus on teen mental health and highlight Dr. Lisa Damour, a clinical psychologist and NYT bestselling author who has spent decades working as a clinician and researcher specifically with teenagers and adolescents. She is widely featured for her clinical wisdom and practical guidance that she combines with sound research to help parents and teenagers navigate a wide array of challenges and concerns related to mental health and development during this unique phase of life.

There has been significant attention in the news recently around the ‘teen mental health’ crisis, and the impact that the pandemic, social media and a myriad of other factors have had on teenagers emotional well being. As parents, I am sure you can relate to the anxiety that comes with parenting teenagers!

Dr. Damour was recently interviewed by the Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy. Dr. Murthy has prioritized youth mental health as a significant part of his platform as the Surgeon General, and hosted this conversation around the challenges teenagers face and their mental and emotional wellbeing in this current moment. Dr. Damour offers helpful advice around what they need from parents, what to expect from teenagers in terms of their emotional landscape, and practical strategies around specific concerns such as social media, self harm, and other important topics.

Additionally, Dr. Damour has written three New York Times bestsellers. Her latest book, ‘The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents,’ provides practical guidance on how parents can steady their teenagers during this emotionally intense time in their lives. She describes the book in this way,

“Parents who read this book will learn:
• what to expect in the normal course of adolescent emotional development and when it’s time to worry
• why teens (and adults) need to understand that mental health isn’t about “feeling good” but about having feelings that fit the moment, even if those feelings are unwanted or painful
• strategies for supporting teens who feel at the mercy of their emotions so they can become psychologically aware and skilled at managing their feelings
• how to approach common challenges that come with adolescence, such as friction at home, spiking anxiety, risky behavior, navigating friendships and romances, the pull of social media, and many more
• the best ways to stay connected to their teens and how to provide the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want”

We hope that you will find her helpful to you as you parent and walk alongside of your teenagers!