146. When Your Teen Doesn’t Want Your Advice

You’re trying to help. They think you’re trying to control them. Sound familiar?

As parents, we often step in with the best intentions: to protect, guide, or simply make things easier. But when your teen or young adult shuts down, gets defensive, or accuses you of being controlling, it can leave you feeling confused, hurt, and stuck. So, what do you do when your support backfires?

In this episode, Seth and I unpack a tricky dynamic in parenting teens and young adults: offering advice that isn’t wanted. We explore why “help” can feel like judgment, how even kind intentions can come off as condescending, and what to say instead when your child shares something hard.

We talk about how to respond without overstepping, and how to build trust by listening instead of fixing. Whether your teen is venting about a problem or navigating serious challenges, knowing how to offer support without triggering resistance is key.

If you’ve ever been told “You’re too controlling,” or found yourself thinking “I’m just trying to help,” have a listen to today’s episode.

In this episode on when your teen doesn’t want your advice, we discuss:

• What to do when your teen shares something but doesn’t want your advice;
• How unsolicited advice can feel belittling, even when you mean well;
• The difference between emotional safety and intellectual solutions;
• Why teens are more likely to come to you when they feel respected;
• Simple questions to ask before giving advice;
• How to support autonomy without stepping back completely;
• Why learning to “hold space” is a skill worth practicing for parents of struggling teens;
• And more.

Looking for 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.