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Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan 278 episodes Latest Jun 2, 2026

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is a podcast hosted by clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan. It offers expert advice and psychological insights for parents navigating the challenges of raising tweens and teens. Each episode addresses listener questions on topics like stress, anxiety, social media, school pressures, and peer relationships. The podcast provides practical, science-backed strategies to help parents raise resilient and emotionally healthy children.

Episodes

275: ENCORE: How Do I Support My LGBTQ+ Daughter? Jun 9, 2026 1873 If your child has just come out to you — or you sense they might be questioning their gender identity — you may be wondering what to say, what to do, and how to get this right. This episode is here to help. Dr. Lisa Damour walks parents through one of the most important conversations of adolescence: how to respond when your tween or teen comes out as gay, lesbian, or bi, or expresses a non-tradit
274: ENCORE: S.U.N.: Lisa’s Three Keys to a Happy Summer Jun 2, 2026 1975 Does your family hit September feeling more exhausted than when summer started? You're not alone — and it doesn't have to be that way. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour shares her research-backed S.U.N. framework — Sleep, Unplug, and Nature — a simple, three-part plan for making summer genuinely restorative for your tween or teen (and for you). Whether your family is drowning in screens, running o
273: Best of Ask Lisa: Confidence, Self-Esteem & Self-Compassion May 26, 2026 2565 Does your tween or teen struggle with low confidence and self-esteem? Do you want to cultivate healthy self-compassion and self-worth in them — and in yourself? In this special "Best of Ask Lisa" compilation, clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and co-host Reena Ninan pull together some of their most powerful conversations on self-esteem, confidence, and self-compassion, covering the full arc o
272: Why Is My Teen Bombing Tests? May 19, 2026 2092 Your teen does everything right. Homework done. Pays attention. Stays organized. Has study skills. And still struggles with tests. ​​Sound familiar? You're not alone, and this is not your kid's fault. In this episode of “Ask Lisa,” clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and Reena Ninan dig into one of the most frustrating and confusing problems parents face: the capable, motivated teen who just c
271: Prom Night: Do I Trust My Teen—or My Instincts? May 12, 2026 1800 It's prom season, and one mom is facing a tough call: her son wants to go to an unsupervised after-party two hours away. Other parents are saying yes. Her gut is saying no. And her son is saying he'll skip prom entirely if she doesn't let him go. Whether it's prom, spring break, or any other "big night" moment, dilemmas like this one can keep parents up at night. Should you trust your kid, or sho
270: Should I Let My Kid Make In-App Purchases in Video Games? May 5, 2026 1726 Loot boxes, in-app purchases, Robux, skins — and a kid who won't stop asking for them. If you're a parent of a tween or teen gamer, you already know this pressure. But are these purchases actually harmful, or are you just out of touch with how gaming works today? In-app purchases are one of the most confusing pressure points for parents of tweens and teens right now. The games are "free to downlo
BONUS Episode: How Do I Talk With My Teen About Fentanyl? Apr 29, 2026 2110 In recognition of National Fentanyl Awareness Day, we're bringing back one of our most critical episodes — because every family needs this information. Illicit fentanyl has contaminated the drug landscape and is causing record deaths among young people. How should parents talk with their teens about this fast-moving crisis? What can we say to help keep our kids safe? Dr. Lisa Damour, who serves
269: Why Is Basic Hygiene Such a Battle With My Tween? Apr 28, 2026 1822 Your tween won't shower, won't change their clothes, or lies about having brushed their teeth or washed their face...Sound familiar? If you're in the middle of a hygiene battle with your tween or young teen, you're not alone, and you're not failing as a parent. This is one of the most common (and confusing) challenges of early adolescence, especially when basic resistance starts to take the form
268: Should I Let My Teen Take Supplements? Apr 21, 2026 1545 Creatine for teens, supplements for teen athletes, and navigating gym culture pressure on social media… Dr. Lisa Damour answers the question parents of teen athletes are searching for. Your teen's teammate is taking creatine. Now your kid wants it too. Maybe they're a serious athlete with real goals. Maybe you even take supplements yourself. But something still feels… off. This is genuinely a har
267: My Kid Has Been Accepted to College. But Is She Ready to Go? Apr 14, 2026 1589 Your teen got into college. Now comes the harder question: are they actually ready to go? If you're wondering whether they have what it takes to handle a difficult roommate, navigate the college party scene, or make real friends on their own, you're not alone. This is one of the most common, and least talked about, worries parents carry into the summer before college drop-off. In this episode, c
266: Should I Let My Teen Be Intimate at Home? Apr 7, 2026 1728 Wondering how to talk to your teen about relationships and intimacy? Clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour has the research-backed answers.Your teenager is in a relationship, and now you're asking yourself a question you never thought you'd have to answer: Do I allow this in my home? This is a tough topic to face, but avoiding it doesn't protect our kids. Honest, values-based conversation does.
265: Screens, Toxic Stress & Staying Connected with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris Mar 31, 2026 2828 If you're raising a tween or teen in a world of social media, smartphones, and AI, this conversation is for you. How do you protect your kid from the psychological harms of today's digital world (disturbing content, social media, and AI) without pushing them away or damaging the relationship you've worked so hard to build with them? That's the question at the heart of this special episode of Ask

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