Finding talking to your teen an uphill battle? Psychologist, coach and dad Hennie Vorster throws light on the development of adolescents’ logical-rational faculties, the power of their emotions, the world they inhabit, and why so many struggle with anxiety. He advises listening for emotion, guiding teens to focus on what is in their control, and using choices and consequences as parenting tools.

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In ep. 99 of the weekly podcast series Calm, Clear and Helpful, Hennie touches on

• understanding teens’ brain development and its impact on thoughts, actions and communication

• gaining insight into the world teens are living in

• rules around smart phones, social media apps like TikTok, and games: solid advice 

• how to listen to your teen – when in conversation, and at other times

• what to do (and not to do!) when speaking to your teen

• why parents may be experienced as “commanding and demanding”

• why teenagers tend to shut down or withdraw – and what to do when it happens

• how to speak to a teenager who has broken a rule

• how to discipline children by using choices and consequences

• how feeling they have choices makes teens more compliant

• why family time is essential and how to fit it into a busy schedule

• why boredom is “good” for children

• reasons for the rise in anxiety among teens

• when to seek professional help for your teen and how to approach this

• Hennie’s 3 tips on managing anxiety.

In this episode, Hennie mentions Conversation starters for families (cards); the screen time app on iPhone and  the Family Time app on Android (ways to control teens’ screen time); SafetyNet and Klikd (informative sites on children and the internet).

More about Hennie

Hennie Vorster is an educational psychologist, business and life coach and motivational speaker from Johannesburg. In his psychology practice he focuses on children, teenagers, families and couples and he incorporates coaching techniques into therapy sessions. His business coaching has included team, individual and executive coaching to a wide range of industries. He also facilitates training workshops.

Websites:

http://h2coaching.co.za/about-us/

https://www.mosaiek.com/bediening-wholeness/

Email: HennieV@mosaiek.com

Tel. 063 040 9463 or 083 564 8266

Facebook: Educational Psychologist - Hennie Vorster

LinkedIn: Hennie Vorster

Dr. Terri Henderson, psychiatrist and mom, discusses her book which comes really close to a “manual” for your teen.

Daar’s ‘n wetenskaplike verklaring vir tieners se avontuurlus - lees Dr. Lorna Geer se verduideliking hier.

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The free podcast series Calm, Clear & Helpful is available on iTunes, Spotify, Player FM and Iono.fm.

Music by Mart-Marie Snyman

Thumbnail image: Unsplash. Model used.

Photograph of Hennie Vorster: supplied.