Sara Bennett, a psychotherapist at OSF HealthCare, shared advice on building trust and communication between parents and teenagers in an article published on Mar. 24. The guidance is part of a multi-part series focusing on the challenges and opportunities within the parent-teen relationship.
The topic is significant as many families face difficulties during adolescence, when teenagers seek independence and often turn to their peers for support. Bennett said this shift can leave parents feeling less important or disconnected from their children. “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… All of that can feel really challenging for parents to navigate when it feels like your child is slipping through your fingers.”
Bennett recommended that parents build trust by setting clear expectations and being consistent with their responses. She suggested rewarding positive behavior both inherently—such as reducing reminders if a teen demonstrates responsibility—and with tangible rewards like allowances or meals out.
Bennett also noted that parenting strategies should change as children grow older, explaining: “You start at 13 having more responsibility… Then maybe by the time they’re 17, they don’t need a whole lot of parenting in that way.” She encouraged caregivers to be forgiving of themselves, saying: “We all get on ourselves… But when you are loving your kids and putting time into them, the things you do wrong are just part of being a human being. There’s nothing to feel guilty about, and your kids know that.” Bennett emphasized open dialogue after disagreements as an opportunity for teaching conflict resolution.
OSF HealthCare contributes to community well-being by offering health guidance, safety tips and expert insights through its newsroom according to the official website. The organization manages a network of 17 hospitals along with urgent-care locations and clinics across Illinois and Michigan according to the official website. It aims to provide compassionate care through clinical services as well as community initiatives according to the official website, serving both urban and rural areas according to the official website.
As an integrated nonprofit health system dedicated to community service according to the official website, OSF HealthCare offers services including emergency care, cancer treatment, heart services, neurological support and mental health care such as behavioral health navigators available even for non-patients according to the official website.
The series will continue in coming weeks with further advice from Bennett available via OSF Newsroom.
