When your teen shrugs you off or slams the door, it’s easy to feel shut out but underneath, they’re often saying, “Please don’t give up on me.”

In this blog, psychotherapist Laura Thomas shares 10 powerful truths teens wish their parents knew, from emotional overwhelm to unspoken fears and how you can support them without pushing them away.

One minute, I’m busy cooking dinner, sorting out school uniforms, and being the centre of their universe. The next, they’re off into the world, and I don’t hear a peep from them for hours. When they finally return, it’s as if I’ve ceased to exist in their universe.