Tips for Parenting a Troubled Teenager

Parenting a troubled teenager can be difficult.

Sometimes a parent is tempted to turn the other way when they are dealing with a teen who has problems. This is especially true when a teen’s problems become more serious. However, it is imperative to keep a strong connection and communication system with your teen during these trying times.

Parents need to help their teen. They need to do their best to keep the parent and child relationship intact as much as possible. You should know your relationship with your troubled teen might not be perfect. However, showing your son or daughter you love and care about them can help them turn down the road to getting better.

Try looking at your teen’s situation differently

One way to look at your teen’s situation differently is to use a technique called reframing.

This is a method used by therapists to view a teenager’s situation or behavior in a different manner. This technique can help you shift your perspective and give you insight into the triggers creating your teen’s behavior patterns.

Often, parents and teens can regain a whole new aspect of the problem when they look at the situation in a brand-new way. The good news is when a parent looks at the situation with a fresh new mindset, teens usually have no choice but to act in a more positive manner.

Get professional help

Many troubled teens need some professional help.

The help is going to assist them in identifying and figuring out the cause of their problems and finding ways to deal with them. It is better to get professional help when your teen first begins to act out than to wait for their problems to get worse.

However, some parents have difficulty taking this first step. They feel that asking for help is a sign of weakness. However, this is not true. Just remember you are helping your child by getting assistance from a mental health professional.

There are definite advantages from getting professional help such as these people has experience helping troubled teenagers. They are specialized in figuring out what types of clinical interventions will be most effective for your teen.

The professionals will support you, your family, and teen through the hard times you are all facing right now.

Taking action for your troubled teen

As a parent of a troubled teen, you are probably filled with fear.

However, you should know many parents who have a troubled teen feel the same way. A lot of parents wonder what they will do if the situation gets worse. They ask themselves what if the child puts themselves or other people in danger. They feel a crisis will happen at some point. That is possible because it is not uncommon for a troubled teen’s behavior to escalate into a crisis.

This is because a lot of the time, teens have trouble coping in stressful situations. However, taking the right steps to understand in advance how to handle these potentially dangerous moments can make your life and your teen’s life a whole lot easier.

Talk with your teen about your own struggles

Many experts suggest parents talk with their teens about the struggles they had during adolescent and teenage years. This can help you connect with your teen and can help them feel normal.

However, remember during your conversation don’t criticize or compare, just share. For example, you should not say, “You have it so much easier than I did. My parents were so much more strict on me than I am on you.”

Instead, you should say, “I can remember how tough it is to talk with parents about curfew. We disagreed about it too.”

Don’t forget to take care of yourself

If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed out, you won’t be able to help your teen.

It is essential to make sure you take care of yourself, even if this means getting help by a professional for yourself. The fact is, the better you feel, the more you will be able to help your teen handle their own situation. So, don’t forget, always take care of yourself mentally and physically this way you can effectively help your child.

Get them into hobbies

Another good way to help your troubled teen is by getting them into hobbies such as sports, photography, painting, fencing, or other kinds of activities.

This will allow your teen to feel less stressed and allow them to put their energy into something positive.

Addicted teenager

Do you have a teenager who is addicted to drugs or alcohol?

This can be one of the toughest things as a parent. If so, while you may worry, there are inpatient drug rehab centers available to help you and them to get through this tough time. You can have them attend an outpatient drug rehab or inpatient drug rehab treatment program.

These are just some of the tips you can use for parenting a troubled teenager. Start helping your child today.

Continue exploring this topic

Talk to our Marriage.com AI Relationship Coach

Chat with me, ask questions and get help

Start Chatting

Marriage.com AI: Your Relationship Guide

Talk through what's on your mind.

Automated

Hi, I'm your relationship guide. What's on your mind?

YOU COULD START WITH

How can I parent a troubled teenager?

What are tips for parenting troubled teens?

AI guidance only - not therapy. In crisis? Call a helpline or Find a Therapist

Terms

Patrick Bailey

Patrick Bailey is a professional writer mainly in the fields of mental health, addiction, and living in recovery. He attempts to stay on top of the latest news in the addiction and the mental health world and enjoy writing about these topics to break the stigma associated with them.

Marriage.com Assessment

How Healthy Are Your Family Dynamics Quiz

Reviewed byJennifer Schulz, LCSW

Family dynamics are at the heart of how we experience love, safety, and belonging. They shape the way we communicate, handle stress, and connect with one another. Often, we don’t fully notice these patterns until tension or distance starts to a...

Questions: 20 | Last updated: Jan 19, 2026

Sample Question

When a disagreement happens in your family, what’s most likely to follow?

We tend to argue or avoid each other for a while

Things feel tense, but eventually we move on without talking it through

Someone tries to lighten the mood or shift focus to happier things.

Older family members step in to mediate or share advice

Take the Quiz Now