Ways to Encourage My Teen to Open Up About Her Feelings
If you’re parenting a teenage daughter, especially one struggling with anxiety or depression, you’ve probably faced that dreaded silence. You
November 18, 2024
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Ashley Waknine is a licensed mental health therapist, parent coach, published author, and nationally recognized life coach, ranked among the top 10 American life coaches by Life Coach Magazine. She owns Ashley Waknine Counseling and Coaching in Boca Raton, Florida, where she helps young people build resilience and achieve success. As an expert in adolescent growth and development, Ashley works with teens and young adults while also consulting with parents, educators, and child advocates to create the best conditions for healing.
Ashley’s passion for her work comes from personal experience. Growing up, she witnessed her own sister battle severe mental health challenges, ultimately finding resilience and building a meaningful life. Inspired by her family’s journey and the hundreds of parents she has supported in her practice, Ashley created Path to Peace Parenting to empower parents to strengthen their bond with their daughters and guide them out of anxiety and depression.
Growing up, I watched my sister struggle with life-threatening depression and I felt the toll it took on my parents and our family. I remember the extreme isolation of my sister hiding in her room or on the computer not talking to any of us. I remember the psychiatric hospital, residential treatment, suicide watch and family therapy.
Basically, everything about our normal, happy family was turned upside down when my sister hit adolescence and started to struggle with her mental health. And there was nobody to talk to. Nobody in our community could possibly understand our situation. We were stuck in a nightmare. My parents were just trying to lead the way. Keep my sister alive. Hoping the nightmare would end and peace would be found.
Fortunately, it did end. And the person my sister has grown to be is nothing short of inspirational. She is the strongest, most resilient person I know. Her story, and my family’s experience has had such a profound impact on me that I have dedicated my life to helping other teens and families who find themselves in a similar situation.
I know the fear you feel when it seems like you are watching your daughter slipping away from the light, vibrant person you once knew her to be. I know the frustration of trying to motivate an unmotivated teenager who is struggling to take the initiative and follow through on positive change in her life. And the worry that she will hate you for trying to parent her through that.
I know your deepest fears around the way your daughter perceives herself, and whether she will ever come to feel good about herself in her life. I know that the day to day struggles of this situation keep you up at night. It sends you into a place of despair and helplessness and you desperately crave a path to peace.
If this feels familiar, I understand. I want to tell you that no matter how dark and difficult this problem may seem to you right now, there is hope.
Discover expert tips, practical advice, and heartfelt insights to help you navigate the challenges of parenting your daughter through depression and anxiety.
If you’re parenting a teenage daughter, especially one struggling with anxiety or depression, you’ve probably faced that dreaded silence. You
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Apply for the Path to Peace Parenting program to take the next step in helping your daughter heal.
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