Navigating Friendships

Age focus: 12–18 Many parents tell me the same thing, often with genuine confusion. “My teen wants friends, but they don’t seem to know how to keep them.”“They spend hours talking online, but barely say anything in person.”“They care deeply about connection, yet avoid social situations altogether.” What’s important to say early is this. Your teen is probably not antisocial, broken, or uninterested in relationships. In most cases, they are dealing with a skills gap and a conf