How to Build Resilience in your Teen Why is it important to focus on building resilience in your teen?Resilient teens are able to effectively address difficult situations and manage the stress that comes with those situations. Resilience is key in creating a happy successful life.What are the first steps in setting your child up to build her resilience?Unconditional loveSetting expectations that match the capacities and capabilities of your childActing as a powerful model on how to handle stressAccording to Dr. Ginsburg, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, in addition to the first steps listed above, there are seven crucial C's to helping kids manage stress and really thrive. Here they are:Competence - helping teens build skills so that they are competent to handle a variety of situationsConfidence - building belief in one's one abilities; this is done by having multiple experiences that allow the teen to demonstrate competence, build on her skills and develop a base understanding that she can make sound choices regarding future scenariosConnection - strong connections with family, friends, school and the community help a teen feel a sense of security and belonging. These connections can produce a strong sense of values and an ability to address conflicts in relationships.Character - having a strong sense of right and wrong provides a teen with the knowledge that he or she can make wise choices as difficult situations ariseContribution - teens who experience the importance of personal contributions are often motivated to make choices that make the world a better place for everyone. By making positive contributions to society, teens experience greater competency, strength of character, and connectedness (seeing beyond oneself gives a person a sense of purpose - research shows that those who have a strong sense of purpose are happier than those who do not)Coping - making sure that your teen has an arsenal of positive tools in her toolbox to manage stress and deal with difficult situations is crucial to a happy life. Maintaining strong wellness practices give a person the physical reserve needed to help manage difficult times. Equally important is the ability to know how and when to attack a challenge or avoid it, how to deal with the challenge, and what to do with the feelings (physical and emotional) that result.Control - the understanding that life does not just happen; we are in charge of taking action, making decisions and managing consequences.When a teen works with a life coach, half of each session is typically spent helping them create awareness around these seven crucial C's. The rest of the time, we help the teen create action around her specific agenda by building skills, developing strategies, and working through blocks/limiting beliefs. If you think your teen could benefit from life coaching and would like to give it a try, contact us for a free consultation.
