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Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Keywords: ask lisa podcast, dr. lisa damour, reena ninan, psychology, parenting, podcast, teens, tweens, parenting teens, parenting tweens, teen parenting, tween parenting, parenting tips, parenting advice, positive parenting, parenting podcast, teen behavior, tween challenges, raising tweens, raising teens, parenting hacks, parenting help, family dynamics, kids podcast, mental health, teen mental health, attachment styles, emotional intelligence

1 DAYS AGO

254: How to Help Kids Build a Healthy Relationship with Food with Special Guest Dr. Reshma Shah

We all want for our kids to build a healthy relationship with food, but it’s not always clear how to make that happen. Special guest Dr. Reshma Shah offers a grounded, practical approach to navigating the common challenges parents face at mealtime. If you’...

Jan 06

AI Ready

253: How to Future-Proof Your Kids in 2026

Are you worried about how your tween or teen will navigate an unpredictable future? With AI accelerating, the economy shifting, and the world feeling increasingly fragile, many parents are asking, “How do I prepare my child for what’s ahead?” In this New...

2025/12/30

252: ENCORE: Should I Talk with My Teens About My Own Mental Health Challenges?

Perhaps you’ve struggled with anxiety, depression, or stress… and your teen is now old enough to notice. But how much should you share? Parents want to be honest, yet may not want to needlessly burden their kids. Getting that balance right is tricky, and d...

2025/12/23

251: ENCORE: How Do I Parent a Young Adult (and Deal with My Own Parents)?

Your kid is technically an adult, but still looking for–or needing–parental guidance. And maybe you still have your own parents weighing in, too. Parenting through this “in-between” stage can be complicated: How much guidance is too much? When do you let g...

2025/12/16

250: Is It Okay to Push Back on My Kid’s Holiday Wish List?

Are you staring at your tween or teen’s holiday wish list wondering… is it okay to say NO? When every friend seems to be getting the “cool” brands, the pricey sneakers, or the latest tech, it can feel impossible to balance your family’s values with your c...

2025/12/09

249: When Teasing Turns Toxic, What’s a Parent to Do?

Middle school can be rough—emotionally, socially, and developmentally. When teasing crosses the line into cruelty, it usually puts a dent in kids’ confidence and sense of belonging. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan unpack the com...

2025/12/02

248: Should Our Tween Dictate Our Post-Divorce Visitation Schedule?

When parents divorce, how much say should a tween or teen have in deciding where they live, and how often they switch homes? Divorce is hard on everyone, but for kids it often comes with a lot of upheaval. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist R...

2025/11/25

247: ENCORE: Lying, Sneaking, Cheating. What Keeps Kids From Being Honest?

When your child lies about homework, screen time, or where they’ve been, it can feel like a punch to the gut. But what if lying isn’t a sign of bad character, and instead a normal part of growing up? In this encore episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of ...

2025/11/18

246: My Son is Becoming Sexist. How Do I Stop This?

It’s not always easy to be a seventh grade boy. Their confidence may be fragile, they tend to lag behind girls in terms of pubertal development, and at school-a place that can feel like it's built for girls- boys may start to feel like they’re falling behi...

2025/11/11

245: Puberty + Menopause: How Are We Supposed to Cope?!?

When your hormones are downshifting and your teen’s hormones are surging, it can feel like an emotional collision course. If you’ve ever wondered why your tween or teen seems moody, distant, or irritated (and you’re also running out of patience and estroge...

2025/11/04

244: What If Anxiety Won't Let My Teen Sleep?

If your tween or teen lies awake with worries spinning in their mind, or if you’ve wondered whether it’s anxiety, hormones, or something more, this episode is for you. Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan break down why anxiety and sleep are so deepl...

2025/10/28

243: How Do I Talk with My Teen About Alcohol and Weed?

How do you tell your teen not to drink or use weed… while also letting them know they can let you know if they’ve made a bad choice? It can feel impossible to balance rules with approachability. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist ...

2025/10/21

242: How Do I Get My Kids to Like Each Other?

How do you get your kids to like each other… or at least stop fighting all the time? If you’re parenting tweens and teens, sibling conflict can feel endless. One moment they’re laughing together, the next they’re at each other’s throats. You want them to ...

2025/10/14

241: Is My Teen Defining Herself by her "Depression"?

Here’s the good news: today’s tweens and teens talk openly about mental health. Here’s the not-so-good news, sometimes they inaccurately diagnose themselves or organize their emerging identities around a diagnosis. So what happens when your child insists t...

2025/10/07

240: Talk to Your Boys: Raising Confident, Caring Young Men

Many boys are struggling, and parents are often left wondering how to reach them. If your tween or teen son seems distant, gives one-word answers, or is spending too much time online, you’re not alone. In this episode of “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Rais...

2025/09/30

239: AI Companions & Teens: Connection or Concern?

What happens when your tween or teen turns to AI for advice… or even FRIENDSHIP? Today’s kids sometimes experiment with AI chatbots in ways that many parents don’t see coming. While some of their interactions may be harmless, the risks are real. In this e...

2025/09/23

238: Zyns, Vapes & Teens: What Do Parents Need to Know?

Your teen may already know about Zyns, even if you don’t. These discreet little nicotine pouches are popping up in schools, backpacks, and social media feeds, and many parents are only just starting to hear about them. But what makes Zyns so appealing to k...

2025/09/16

237: Homesick at College: What Parents Can Do?

Watching your child head off to college is a proud moment. But what happens when the late-night phone calls come, full of tears and homesickness? If your teen or young adult is struggling with the transition, you’re not alone. More and more students are fi...

2025/09/09

236: Dream School: How Do You Find the Right College for Your Teen?

Is the pressure of college admissions overwhelming your family? You’re not alone. Between endless AP classes, campus tours, and the unspoken competition of “where did your kid get in?”, it’s easy for parents to feel consumed by stress and worry. But what i...

2025/09/02

235: No Phones at School. How Do I Help My Kid Cope?

Your teen just found out their school is banning phones, and they’re furious, anxious, or both! What now? If you’re the parent of a tween or teen, you know how quickly a rule about phones can spiral into conflict. Phone bans at school can feel like a loss...