When teens are encouraged to cope with mental health issues, they’re often bombarded with terms like “fight,” “push through,” and “overcome.” These words, while well-meaning, can create a sense that mental health challenges must be defeated, rather than understood. For parents of teenagers with mental health concerns, a different approach can be incredibly valuable—a way of embracing mental health as part of their teen’s experience rather than something to battle against.

When it comes to helping teens build healthy relationships, the THINK skill is one of the most powerful tools we can offer. This skill is all about perspective-taking—learning how to step outside of our own experience and try to see things from someone else’s point of view. Not only can this improve our teens' relationships, but it can also deepen their empathy, understanding, and overall emotional resilience.

In any relationship, balance is key. We want our teens to experience both the joy of connecting with others and the confidence of staying true to themselves. Relationships are a two-way street, and a healthy connection requires both giving and receiving in a way that feels good to everyone involved.

When you're at a high level of distress, feeling like you're about to reach a breaking point, having effective coping strategies can make all the difference. One of the most powerful tools we teach in our DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) groups is the TIPP skill. This set of crisis survival skills is designed to help you cope and bring your body back to a state of regulation, especially when you're experiencing extreme stress, typically rated as 8 to 10 on the stress meter.