Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

If your teenager suddenly seems distant, emotional, or wants nothing to do with you, you’re not failing as a parent — and you’re definitely not alone. In this eye-opening episode of the Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast, Dr. Cam Caswell sits down with Aliyah Singh, Hannah Ticajo, and Caitlin Severin from CultivaTeen Roots to unpack the real reason teens push parents away — and why it’s actually a normal part of adolescent development.

Together, they explore the science behind parenting teens, emotional safety, communication, self-regulation, and healthy family relationships. You’ll learn why controlling behavior often damages connection, how social media impacts parenting expectations, and why the key to raising confident, independent teens is shifting from managing them to supporting them. This conversation is packed with practical parenting strategies to help parents reduce conflict, strengthen trust, improve communication with teenagers, and rediscover joy in the teen years.

If you’re exhausted by constant power struggles, worried about losing connection with your child, or wondering how to support your teen without pushing them further away, this episode will give you hope, clarity, and actionable tools you can start using immediately.

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

Why teens naturally pull away from parents during adolescence — and what it actually means for your relationship

How emotional safety and nervous system regulation improve communication with teenagers

The parenting shift that helps teens become more independent, responsible, and emotionally resilient

Practical ways to build stronger family relationships without control, pressure, or constant conflict

 

5 KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR PARENTS OF TEENS

1. Connection Grows Through Presence, Not Pressure

Spending calm, low-pressure time together helps teens feel emotionally safe and more willing to connect naturally.

2. Teens Need Support More Than Control

Shifting from “manager” to “consultant” helps teenagers build confidence, independence, and problem-solving skills.

3. Regulated Parents Create Safer Relationships

Parents who practice self-regulation model emotional safety and help reduce tension and conflict at home.

4. Reflective Listening Builds Trust

Teens open up more when parents listen without interrogating, fixing, or immediately offering advice.

5. The Teen Years Shape Long-Term Family Relationships

How parents respond during adolescence strongly impacts future adult relationships with their children.

 

🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW?

Don’t keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need. Your feedback helps us create even more episodes filled with practical parenting strategies and encouragement for families raising teens.

Thanks so much for your support! 🙏💫

🔔 Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode!

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Listeners can use the code CONNECT to get 20% off of our foundational online course, Making AdoleSense.

 

CONNECT WITH OUR GUESTS

Aliyah Singh, Hannah Ticajo & Caitlin Severin — Cultivate Teen Roots

Website: Cultivate Teen Roots

Instagram: @CultivateTeenRoots

 

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST

Dr. Cam Caswell

Website: AskDrCam.com

Instagram: @DrCamCaswell

TikTok: @the.teen.translator

YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

Facebook: @DrCamCaswell

 

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Joyful Parenting
02:59 Understanding the Challenges of Parenting Teens
05:50 Reframing Connection with Teens
08:42 Shifting from Control to Support
11:21 The Importance of Emotional Safety
14:29 Finding Joy in the Teen Years
17:07 The Role of Curiosity in Parenting
19:56 Navigating Insecurities and Building Trust
22:58 Creating a Safe Space for Communication
25:45 Letting Go of Control and Embracing Change
28:40 Finding Community and Support
31:40 Conclusion and Resources

 

ABOUT THE SHOW

The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, this podcast offers practical parenting strategies, expert advice, and real-world insights to help you build stronger family relationships and support your teen’s emotional growth.

Whether you’re struggling with communication, teenage behavior, emotional outbursts, or parenting stress, each episode provides actionable tools to help parenting teens feel more connected, calm, and rewarding.

#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #ParentingTeens #FamilyRelationships

What does it actually take to raise a confident, resilient, successful teen?

In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I sit down with Sheinelle Jones, co-host of Today with Jenna and Sheinelle and author of Through Mom's Eyes: Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans, to unpack what she learned from interviewing the moms behind some of the most extraordinary humans, including Lady Gaga, Serena and Venus Williams, Steph Curry, and the Jonas Brothers.

And here’s what stood out: it’s not about perfect parenting, strict rules, or doing everything “right.”

It’s about presence, trust, and knowing what actually matters in the moments that feel hardest.

We talk about what these moms did differently, the biggest regrets they shared (especially around screen time), and why your teen not appreciating you right now is not a sign you’re failing.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?” this episode will give you clarity, perspective, and a whole lot of relief.

 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

The surprising common traits mothers of highly successful people share.

Why presence matters more than anything else (and what that actually looks like with teens today)

The biggest parenting regrets —and how to course-correct now

Why your teen’s lack of appreciation is completely normal—and what it really means about your relationship

 

🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW?

Don’t keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need. Your feedback helps me create even more episodes filled with practical tips for you and your family! Thanks so much for your support! 🙏💫
🔔 Remember to hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode! 🙌

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

📘 Through Mom's Eyes: Simple Wisdom From Mothers Who Raised Extraordinary Humans

 

CONNECT WITH OUR GUEST: Sheinelle Jones

Website/Profile: NBC Insider

Instagram: Sheinelle Jones

 

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: Dr. Cam Caswell

Website: AskDrCam.com

Instagram: @DrCamCaswell

YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

 

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:00 Why parents question themselves more than ever
02:45 What moms of extraordinary humans did differently
06:10 The power of presence over perfection
09:00 Parenting regrets around screens and connection
12:00 Why teens don’t show appreciation (and why that’s okay)
15:00 Letting go of control and trusting your teen
18:00 Building resilience and “fighting for your joy”

 

ABOUT THE SHOW

The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Hosted by Dr. Cam Caswell, an adolescent psychologist and certified parenting coach, this podcast offers practical parenting strategies, expert advice, and real-world insights to help you build a stronger relationship with your teen and support their emotional growth. Whether you’re struggling with teenage behavior or looking to improve communication, each episode provides actionable tips to make parenting teens easier and more rewarding. Perfect for both new and seasoned parents, this podcast helps you build the confidence to handle teen challenges and thrive together.

#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #raisingteens #parentingadvice

If your teen is hiding things or not telling you the full truth, it can feel like you’re losing them.

And your instinct?
Tighten the rules. Ask more questions. Stay on top of everything.

But here’s the part most parents aren’t told:

Teen secrecy isn’t usually about rebellion or disrespect.
It’s about development.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why teens keep secrets, what’s actually going on in their brain, and why common parenting reactions like punishment, pressure, or constant checking often make things worse. 

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE

Why teen secrecy does not always mean what you think it means

The response that often makes teens hide even more

What parents miss when they focus only on getting the truth

How to become the person your teen comes to when it matters most

🎧❤️ ENJOYING THE SHOW?
Don’t keep it to yourself! Share your favorite episode and leave a rating and review to help other parents find the support they need.

Your feedback helps me create more episodes filled with real-life, practical strategies that actually work.

🔔 Hit SUBSCRIBE so you never miss another solution-packed episode.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

The COLLABORATE Method Parenting Program
👉 https://www.askdrcam.com/collaboratemethod

CONNECT WITH YOUR HOST: Dr. Cam Caswell
Website: AskDrCam.com
Instagram: @DrCamCaswell
TikTok: @the.teen.translator
YouTube: Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam
Facebook: @DrCamCaswell

EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 Why Teen Secrecy Feels So Scary
04:30 What’s Actually Going On in Your Teen’s Brain
09:00 Why Punishment Backfires
13:30 How to Make Honesty Feel Safer
18:00 Shifting from Control to Connection

ABOUT THE SHOW
The Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast is your go-to resource for navigating the challenges of raising teenagers. Each episode gives you practical tools to reduce conflict, build connection, and help your teen grow into a capable, confident adult.

#theteentranslator #drcamcaswell #parentingteenswithdrcam #teencommunication #parentingteens

What would you do if your teen told you a classmate was making threats? Most parents freeze — unsure whether to panic, dismiss it, or act.

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with Nicole Hockley, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise and mother who lost her six-year-old son Dylan in the 2012 Sandy Hook tragedy, to talk about one of the most important skills a parent can develop: knowing when something is wrong with your teen before it becomes a crisis.

Nicole has spent over a decade studying the warning signs that precede school violence and teen crisis — and what she shares might surprise you. The signs are rarely dramatic. They're quiet. Easy to explain away. And most parents miss them.

In this episode, you'll learn:

The difference between subtle and overt warning signs — and why the subtle ones are more dangerous

Why dismissing your teen's feelings ("you're overreacting") actually makes things worse

The single most powerful protective factor against teen crisis (hint: it's not monitoring)

What to do when a peer reports something concerning about your child

How to secure lethal means at home — and why this one step saves lives

The tiered response framework that helps you stay calm and act appropriately at every level of concern

A word from Nicole that every parent needs to hear:

"I would much rather be embarrassed by being wrong than be horrified by being right."

Connect with Nicole Hockley & Sandy Hook Promise:

🌐 sandyhookpromise.org

📘 facebook.com/SandyHookPromise

📸 instagram.com/sandyhookpromise

🐦 twitter.com/sandyhook

🎵 tiktok.com/@sandyhookpromise

▶️ youtube.com/channel/UCl5MxshIyRwoFNsFut6UZdA

Resources mentioned:

Sandy Hook Promise's UnTargeting initiative & latest report with Children and Screens: sandyhookpromise.org

If you or your teen is in crisis:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988

Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Emergency: 911

Your instinct to reach out for help is never an overreaction. This episode could change how you see your teen — and how they see you.

If consequences used to work… and now they just lead to more attitude, shutdowns, or the same fights on repeat—this episode will explain why.

If you’re parenting a teen and struggling with defiance, power struggles, or constant pushback… you’re not alone.

Because it’s not that your teen suddenly stopped caring.

It’s that their brain has changed—and the tools that worked before don’t work the same way anymore.

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with Charle Peck, LCSW, M.Ed., an international keynote speaker, clinical therapist, and former educator who specializes in helping people stay calm and effective under pressure. Charle works with parents, educators, and professionals to transform high-stress situations into opportunities for growth using practical, science-backed strategies.

Together, they unpack what’s really going on when consequences backfire—and the simple shift that can completely change how your teen responds.

What you’ll learn in this episode:
👉 Why teens push back harder the more you try to control them
👉 What your teen actually needs in high-conflict moments
👉 The hidden reason your reactions may be escalating things
👉 A powerful question that instantly lowers defensiveness
👉 What to do instead of consequences to get better behavior

If you’re tired of power struggles, walking on eggshells, or feeling like nothing is working anymore… this episode will give you a whole new way to understand—and respond to—your teen.

Because your teen isn’t broken.
They’re developing. And they need a different approach.

 

🎧 Enjoying the show?
Follow and leave a quick review so more parents can find the support they need.

Connect with Charle Peck:
🌐 Website: https://www.thrivingeducator.org/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charlepeck
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlepeck
🐦 X: https://twitter.com/CharlePeck

 

🎁 Resource Mentioned:
Rapid Resets: https://www.charlepeck.com/pl/2148694979

Connect with your host, Dr. Cam:
🌐 Website: www.askdrcam.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drcamcaswell