You can learn a lot by asking your teen about their life, and then listening without jumping immediately to advice giving.

When you withhold judgment and resist the temptation to give advice, you gain valuable information about your teen’s friends, academics, and mental health. You also give them an opportunity to feel closer to you.

“Man up!” Men often tell me that it has become difficult to even recognize any feelings besides anger and basic happiness; these anecdotal observations are backed by psychological research.

Many men feel pressure to suppress or ignore other important feelings such as fear, sadness, grief, confusion, warmth, and vulnerability.

It can feel wonderful to speak openly in a confidential space that is just for you. As a therapist, it is my job to create time and space for you to process, vent, reflect, cry, laugh, ask questions, and even sit quietly and experience your emotions.

In therapy, it is also normal to feel upset by what comes up when you allow yourself to discuss and feel things that you have as of yet been unable to process.