My Teen Won’t Talk With Me! Strategies for Building Trust and Communicating Effectively

My Teen Wont Talk With Me Strategies for Building Trust and Communicating Effectively

Have you ever asked a teen how they are doing, only to be met with a one-word reply? What does it mean when they say, “Fine”? Talking with teens can be hard. Depression makes it harder. As a parent or caring adult, you want to make sure you are connecting with the teen in your life and aware of their needs, but that’s tricky to do if conversations don’t feel welcome. While it may feel impossible, there are ways you can build trust with your teen and have impactful conversations.

In this webinar, therapist Rebekah Gibbons, LICSW, discusses how parents and caring adults can build trusting relationships that help teens feel safe, communicate about depression using age-appropriate terminology, and manage difficult conversations.

Presenters

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Rebekah Gibbons, LICSW

Rebekah Gibbons (she/her), LICSW is a trauma-informed and certified therapist specializing in adolescent mental health and trauma. Rebekah worked in community-based care for five years, including adolescent residential treatment where she provided individual, family, and group therapy, before transitioning to private practice. Rebekah provides consultation and training to schools and community members regarding adolescent trauma and mental health, specifically focused on supporting schools to create trauma-informed and wellness-centered spaces. Her approach stems from a systems-based perspective of the individual, recognizing that each individual is both influenced by and influences the various systems that surround them. Rebekah is committed to the necessity of anti-racism work within the mental health and social work fields at individual and systemic levels.

Valerie Cordero

Valerie Cordero, PhD

Valerie Cordero is Co-Executive Director of Families for Depression Awareness. Valerie joined the FFDA staff in 2010 and has held positions in administration, programs, and development. She received her BA from Spelman College and earned her Masters and PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of California at Los Angeles. Valerie is based in FFDA’s Nashville office.