When Your Teen Shuts Down: A Parent's Field Guide

Most parents I work with describe the same painful moment — the teenager who used to share everything now answers in one word, retreats to their room, and locks the door.

Before assuming it's about you, consider this: shutdown is often a nervous system response, not a personality change.

Three things to try this week:

1. Lower the stakes of conversation. Drive, walk, cook — side-by-side talks beat face-to-face interrogations. 2. Be the first to be vulnerable. Share something you found hard today. 3. Resist filling the silence. Presence without pressure rebuilds trust.