OSF HealthCare released guidance on Mar. 17 for parents and caregivers seeking to strengthen their relationships with teenagers, focusing on trust, communication, and shared experiences. The advice comes from Sara Bennett, a psychotherapist at OSF HealthCare, as part of a multi-part series addressing the challenges and opportunities in parent-teen dynamics.
The topic is important because adolescence is a period marked by growing independence and shifting social priorities. As teenagers spend more time with peers and explore new interests, parents may feel disconnected or concerned about their influence. “Teenagers are working toward independence. That’s the good part. The hard part is that means they lean more toward their peer relationships,” Bennett said. “It can leave parents feeling like they’re drifting apart. It can make parents feel like they’re not very important. And it can make the teenagers a little moodier. They might be taking risks they weren’t once taking. They might find peer relationships that are not very positive.
“All of that can feel really challenging for parents to navigate when it feels like your child is slipping through your fingers,” Bennett added.
Bennett recommends finding shared activities such as game nights or family dinners to maintain connection as children grow older and become more independent. “With teenagers, parents tend to focus on the things that they deem important. How’d you do on your math test? How is your relationship with Susie?” Bennett said. “Those are great, and they need to be talked about. But we also need to spend time just doing things we enjoy with each other. Focus on trivial or unimportant things.” She suggests choosing activities that both teen and parent enjoy to foster genuine connection.
Communication skills are another key area highlighted by Bennett, who advises keeping conversations light and consistent while being open to discussing serious topics when needed: “Connect with them on the things that matter to them. Then when the things that come up that are important to talk about, you can do that,” she said.
OSF HealthCare contributes to community well-being by offering health guidance, safety tips and expert insights on diseases and preventive care through its newsroom, according to the official website. The organization encompasses a network of 17 hospitals, urgent-care locations, medical group clinics and various outpatient facilities across Illinois and Michigan according to the official website. OSF HealthCare aims to provide compassionate care through clinical services as well as community initiatives according to the official website.
The health system extends its support across both urban and rural areas in Illinois and Michigan according to the official website, functioning as an integrated nonprofit network managing hospitals, clinics, urgent-care centers and physician practices under a unified ministry dedicated to community service according to the official website. Services include emergency care, cancer treatment, heart services, neurological support, primary medicine, mental health care and digital health options through OSF OnCall according to the official website.
Bennett encourages families seeking additional support or resources related to mental health or family dynamics to explore offerings available at OSF HealthCare facilities.
