Why My Teen Won’t Talk To Me
Be the person your child runs to, not away from
An on-demand webinar for parents of tweens & teens.
When your chatty kid becomes a closed bedroom door
They used to tell you everything on the drive home. Now you ask how their day was, get one word back and hear the bedroom door close. Friday night pizza and a movie has been swapped for friends, and when you try to talk about it, it turns into an argument neither of you wanted.
You might be:
- Asking questions and getting short answers, or nothing at all
- Feeling rejected now they don’t need you the way they used to
- Hearing yourself say things like oh, you’re out again, and watching it push them further away
- Clashing over friends, clothes, music, values and how they spend their time
- Trying to help fix their problems and getting shut out
- Worried about risk taking and not sure how to raise it without a fight
- Unsure whether what you’re seeing is a normal part of growing up or a sign they need more support
This isn’t a sign you’ve failed
When I work with teenagers, almost every one of them tells me their parents don’t listen to them. Parents tell me their teen won’t listen. Both sides feel unheard, and the harder each side pushes, the more stuck the pattern gets.
Pulling towards friends, wanting more privacy and working out who they are is a normal, healthy part of adolescence. It can still feel like a loss, and it makes sense that it hurts. What helps isn’t trying harder to hold on. It’s changing your role, from the manager who packed lunches and signed excursion forms to the consultant they choose to come back to.
What we cover
- What’s happening in your teen’s brain, body and friendships, and why pulling away is part of it
- How to move from manager to consultant without a power struggle
- Connection before correction, so you can address behaviour without losing the relationship
- How to help your teen name what they’re feeling so they can manage it
- How to listen in a way that keeps them talking, and why jumping in to fix things shuts them down
- How to negotiate boundaries like curfew together so they’re more likely to stick to them
- How to talk about sex, consent and risk taking so they know they can come to you when something goes wrong
- When to worry, including the less obvious signs that a teen is struggling and needs professional support
What changes for you
- You’ll understand why your teen is pulling back, and stop taking it so personally
- You’ll know what to say when they walk in, throw their bag down and head straight for their room
- You’ll have simple phrases you can use the same day, like I noticed you threw your bag down, I wonder if you’ve had a bad day
- You’ll spend less time in arguments that start with a throwaway comment
- You’ll feel steadier about when to step in and when to step back
- You’ll be building the kind of relationship where they come to you when something goes wrong, rather than hiding it from you
This webinar is for you if
- You’re the parent or carer of a child aged around 9 to 18
- You’re noticing the shift that often comes with puberty or the move from primary to high school
- You want practical things to try at home, not a lecture on what you’re doing wrong
If you’re worried your teen is at risk of harming themselves or someone else, please don’t wait for a webinar. Contact your GP, their school counsellor or a mental health professional. In an emergency call 000. Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) and Lifeline (13 11 14) are available 24 hours.
Hi I’m Marie
I’m an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and family therapist. I’ve worked as a school counsellor and wellbeing coordinator, and I work with teenagers, parents and families. I hold a Master of Family Therapy and a Graduate Diploma in Youth Mental Health.
My interest is in where mental health and relationships meet, and keeping the relationship at the centre of the work. This webinar brings together what I share with parents every week.
What you get
- Instant access to the full Why My Teen Won’t Talk To Me webinar
- Watch at your own pace, pause and come back to it whenever you need
- Practical phrases and approaches you can use straight away
$27 AUD, one off payment
Questions Parents Ask
Is this live?
No. It’s recorded, so you can watch whenever suits you and rewatch as often as you like.
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How do I access it?
You’ll get access straight after purchase.
My child is only 10. Is it too early?
Not at all. The changes that come with puberty can start from around 9, and the earlier you build these habits the easier the teen years tend to be.
My teen is 17. Is it too late?
No. Connection can be rebuilt at any age, and many of the approaches work just as well with older teens and young adults.
Is this therapy?
No. It’s education for parents. If you’re worried about your teen’s mental health, reach out to your GP, their school counsellor or a mental health professional.
What if I want to go further?
My Connected Teens parenting program goes through this in much more detail over six modules, including adolescent development, family values, independence and wellbeing.
They still need you. Just differently.
You don’t have to get this perfect. Small shifts in how you listen and respond make a big difference to whether your teen keeps talking to you.