Even though his mother declined his request to go overnight with his peers, he walked away from the conversation with confidence. Knowing what he could do to make the request a reality, he overcame his anxiety of asking for independence.
Over the years in my counseling practice, I noticed that the majority of teenagers would refuse to tell their parents about their innermost feelings. The thought of having to express themselves after experiencing depression, bullying, loneliness, suicide, or sadness felt overwhelming. As one teenager explained, “it seems to be too much of a hassle” to