99. Why Your Teen Doesn’t Just Do What You Tell Them

Parenting Post-Wilderness: Parenting a Struggling Teen Before, During and After Treatment

WHY can’t my teen just do what I ask them to do?!
I’m sure you’ve had this thought before, just like any other parent on this planet.
Today, Seth shares a relatable story of a teen who’s not showing up and isn’t showing any motivation for behavioral change. Sounds familiar? Then this episode is for you.
Why do our teens show up like this? Where is this behavior coming from? They’ve signed the home contract after treatment so why are they not following the rules?
“I wasn’t gonna take responsibility for my actions [because] I didn’t need to take responsibility for my actions. I had to learn much later in life how to take responsibility for my actions and what that actually meant. ”
- Seth Gottlieb
To answer these questions, we’re diving into how the teen’s brain works as well as the place where your teen spends most of their time after treatment: at home with you, their parents.
“This is what kids think: If we are not following through on what we say we will do, then it’s just basically a green light”
- Beth Hillman
In this episode, we discuss:

• How the brain of your teen works and why they react to boundaries and consequences the way they do;
• The message you’re sending to your teen when you’re not upholding boundaries;
• How teens interpret and respond to parental actions and inactions;
• The pivotal role of parents in modeling and enforcing desired behaviors;
• Tips for creating a consistent and accountable home environment;
• Why I don’t like home contracts and recommend working with a Parent Home Plan instead;
• Helping your teen trust that you do what you say;
• Strategies to build and maintain trust through consistent actions;
• What boundaries are you as a parent actually willing to follow through on?;
• The importance of clear, consistent boundaries and the impact on teen behavior.
  

Need support?

🗺️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan!

🤍Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens.

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And remember parents, the change begins with us.

🌱 Small GROUP COACHING program starting February 3rd, 2025 🌱
Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups
I hope to see you there!