Talk to Your T(w)een About Screens
Solutions for when your t(w)eens shuts down, tunes out, or every conversation turns into a fight
You know the advice…
It’s always the same:
Talk to your kids about screens!
Keep the lines of communication open!
But what happens when your t(w)een won't talk?
You’re trying to do it the “right” way
Talk, ask questions, engage.
But every attempt goes sideways:
Instead of great talks you get eye rolls or arguments. Bringing up screens feels like banging your head against a wall, or walking into a minefield.
You worry about screens—the hours spent scrolling, how checked out they seem, is all this time with devices ruining them for life?
You worry about things you don’t even know you should be worried about.
Sometimes you back off. Other times you come in harder. Neither helps.
Meanwhile, the guidance keeps saying to communicate and stay connected… But your reality doesn't match that. Your t(w)een isn't open to heart-to-hearts or kumbaya collaboration.
You're starting to wonder if something is wrong with your t(w)een. Or with you.
I’ve got important news for you:
T(w)eens (seemingly) shutting down when parents try to talk is normal. The problem isn’t you, or your t(w)een.
Sure, maybe you talked too much..
… came in too strong…
…or brought it up at the wrong time.
Or maybe your t(w)een just wasn’t ready.
But the underlying problem is that most advice assume a level of openness that many t(w)eens just don’t have. When the advice doesn’t account for that reality, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing something wrong.
And without tools to navigate that resistance, the whole thing falls apart.
Instead
Let’s work on learning how to bring up screens without it turning into fight or complete stonewalling.
Start feeling like your efforts matter, even if conversations are brief or awkward.
And stop feeling like you’re failing because you can’t make the standard advice work.
Ready for a different approach to your conversations?
You’ll learn how to:
get specific about what' you’re actually worried about
start conversations without ramping up conflict or shutting down cooperation
feel confident that your efforts matter — even when your t(w)een isn’t particularly responsive
An approach that helps you navigate the reality of talking to a t(w)een who isn’t entirely collaborative?
Why trust me?
I’ve spent over 20 years working with families on the hard parts of parenting — the ones that don’t have easy answers or one-size-fits-all solutions.
I have a Ph.D. in developmental psychology, but more importantly, I understand that research and real life don’t always line up neatly. As a parent myself, I know how frustrating it is when expert advice sounds great in theory but falls apart in practice.
With me you’ll get:
A non-judgmental perspective. I’m not here to tell you what you’re doing wrong.
Realistic strategies. Everything we work on is designed to fit your actual life and your actual kid.
Deep knowledge of t(w)een development. I understand why they shut down, push back, and resist — and how to work with that reality instead of fighting it.
Years of experience. I’ve helped hundreds of families navigate these exact challenges, and I know what makes a difference.
Through one-on-one work, and a supported practice phase, we’ll work on:
Getting specific about what you’re actually concerned about (not just “too much screen time”)
Collaborative problem solving techniques that give structure to difficult conversations
Strategies for talking to t(w)eens who don’t want to talk
Avoiding common mistakes that derail conversations before they start
Implementation period to try things out with support
Celebration of progress and troubleshooting and adjustments where necessary
By the end, you’ll feel confident approaching conversations about screens — even when your t(w)een isn’t particularly receptive. You’ll know your efforts matter, even in communication looks different than you expected.
What’s included
How it works:
Week 1
Get centered. We’ll start by getting clear on what’s actually concerning you. “Too much screen time” often masks deeper worries — sleep, homework, social connection, values. We’ll identify what really matters to you so you know what you’re addressing.
Week 2
Learn skills. We’ll build your conversation toolkit. You’ll learn collaboration techniques that give you a structure for discussion, plus specific strategies for talking to t(w)eens who shut down or push back.
Week 3
Get a strategy. We’ll troubleshoot common mistakes and plan your approach. You’ll leave with a clear strategy for how to start conversations without triggering defensiveness or conflict.
Weeks 4-6
Practice with support. You’ll put everything into action with your t(w)een. I’m available via Voxer during this time to help you navigate what comes up — because real conversations rarely go exactly as planned.
Week 7
Debrief. What worked and what didn’t? We’ll adjust your approach where needed and celebrate your progress.
Your investment: $800
Let’s talk this through together
Not sure if it’s right for you?
This is for you if..
You’re a parent of a t(w)een who shuts down, tunes out, or gets defensive when you try to talk about screens
You’re tired of feeling like you’re failing because the standard advice doesn’t work for your kid
You’re ready to learn a different approach to conversations — one that accounts for t(w)een resistance
You want practical tools, not perfection
This is not for you if…
You’re looking for ways to control your monitor your t(w)een’s every move online
You expect your t(w)een to transform into someone who loves having deep conversations with you
You want quick fixes or rigid formulas
You’re dealing with serious issues that require more comprehensive or therapeutic support.
FAQs
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Yes. This program is specifically designed for parents whose t(w)eens don't want to talk. You'll learn how to navigate resistance, how to communicate even when it's one-sided, and how to make your efforts count—even if your t(w)een isn't particularly responsive.
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That's exactly why the practice period includes Voxer support. We'll troubleshoot together and adjust your approach. Some t(w)eens need more time, different timing, or a different angle. We'll figure out what works for your specific kid. That said, I can’t give you a 100% guarantee that this will change everything; I’m too honest for that.
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No. This is just for you. We're building your skills and confidence so you can navigate these conversations on your own.
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We can talk through serious concerns and I can help you think through how to approach them. However, this program is educational support, not therapy or clinical intervention. I'm not a licensed clinician and can't provide therapeutic or clinical guidance. If it becomes clear during our work that your situation might benefit from additional professional support—like a therapist or counselor—I'll let you know. But ultimately, decisions about your family's care are yours to make.
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This program is specifically focused on building conversation skills for parents of t(w)eens. It's shorter and more targeted than the 12-week program, but more in-depth than the one-time Strategy Session. If you're not sure which is right for you, reach out and we can talk through it.