Parent Coaching for Parents of Anxious Teens with Erin Kirkpatrick MA, ATR, LPC

Parenting a teenager can be both a hard and extremely rewarding experience - but when anxiety enters the picture, it can make the parenting journey more complicated and confusing. Many parents find themselves unsure how to help: Should you step in or step back? Offer reassurance or encourage independence? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and that can leave even the most dedicated and loving parents feeling overwhelmed.

Erin Kirkpatrick MA, ATR, LPC

That’s where parent coaching in St. Louis comes in. Rather than focusing only on the teen, St. Louis parent coaching helps you develop practical tools and deeper insight to respond effectively to your teens anxiety.

Today we are joined by Compassionate Counseling St. Louis therapist, Erin Kirkpatrick MA, ATR, LPC. Erin works with kids, teens, and parents - and she loves to work with parents to build a deeper parenting toolbox and help parents game plan.

In what ways can parent coaching build on what parents are already doing well to better support their teen? 

Often, parents who come to parent coaching are way ahead of the curve as they are willing to show up for help and accept the immense role and influence that they play in their kids' lives.

These parents typically already have a strong connection with their kids but need assistance with communication, developing more consistent routines at home, or learning their own forms of self-care that can prove to have a ripple effect and model healthy self-care for their kids. 

What signs might suggest that parent coaching could be a helpful option for parents of anxious teens? 

Oftentimes a parent has experienced similar difficulties with perfectionism and can start to see familiar patterns arise in their kids.

When a teen seems constantly overwhelmed, how can parent coaching help parents understand what’s really going on beneath the stress?

Helping the parent attune to their kiddo in the here-and-now is a very helpful approach that we work on in parent coaching at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis.

What are some common ways well-meaning parents accidentally add to a teen’s overwhelm, and how does coaching help parents respond differently? 

Sometimes, parents attempt to help their kids by immediately trying to "fix" it and encouraging them to ignore or even villainize negative thoughts ("labeling anxious thoughts as 'bad' or even referring to them as 'the enemy.'").

Sometimes, this can backfire and cause increased anxiety in a child/teen who might feel in constant conflict with a "bad" part of themselves. I assist parents in understanding that anxiety is a normal response to stress - sometimes, it simply goes into overdrive.  We don't have to label thoughts as "good or bad," but instead form a more loving and kind way to responding to thoughts and feelings of anxiety. 

I encourage parents to sit with and acknowledge their child's experiences and just being present to offer support instead of going into "fix-it" mode. 

What are ways that parents can know when parent coaching is working?

When a child reaches out to a parent for support, a parent knows that the child feels love and trust with that parent in times of stress. 

Want to Learn More About Parent Coaching in St. Louis?

Compassionate Counseling St. Louis offers both parent coaching and individual counseling for kids and teens.

Our therapists tailor parent coaching to your unique family and your unique family needs. They practice feedback informed treatment to ensure that progress is being made towards the goals that matter most to you.

Schedule a free consultation with Compassionate Counseling St. Louis today to learn more about the support waiting for you and your family.

Searching for a parenting coach and curious to learn more about parent coaching and therapy for child anxiety and anxiety-driven anger? Want to work with Erin or another one of our great parent coaches? Reach out to us at hello@compassionatecounselingstl.com. As child anxiety experts, we love working with kids, teens, college students and parents to help manage their anxiety, stress, and anger. Compassionate Counseling St. Louis is located in Clayton, MO and works with families by offering both in-person counseling and online therapy throughout St. Louis, Creve Couer, Ballwin, Town and Country, Brentwood, and Ladue. We also provide online therapy Missouri -wide to teens and college students. You can set up your free consult, on our consultation page.