Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

If the biggest fight in your house this week was about the phone, you’re in good company. Here’s the surprise. According to psychologist Dr. Peter Gray, the phone may not be what’s stressing your teen out most. In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I talk with Dr. Gray, author of Restoring Childhood, about what’s driving the rise in teen anxiety, why cracking down on screens often backfires, and what helps teens grow into confident, capable adults.

When we’re worried, most of us reach for more control. Tighter limits, more rules, the...

Teen ignoring you mid-sentence, tuning out your reminders, or answering your whole speech with “What?” Here’s the surprise. It’s rarely disrespect, and it’s rarely about you. In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I explain why teens tune parents out, why lectures backfire, and what helps your teen start listening again.

Most of us respond to the blank stare by saying it again, louder and longer. And the more we repeat, the less they hear. Your teen isn’t tuning you out because they don’t love you. Something is making it hard for them...

Middle schooler won't listen, won't cooperate, or won't get out of bed without a fight? Here's the surprise. That same kid is often engaged, funny, and working hard in a great teacher's classroom. In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, veteran middle school teacher Sean Kane shares what great teachers know about getting middle schoolers to cooperate, and how you can use it at home.

Most of us treat the middle school years like bad weather. We keep our heads down and wait for it to pass. Sean thinks that's the biggest missed opportunity we...

When a teen gets defiant or starts with the back talk, most of us push harder. More rules, louder voice, fewer explanations. And the harder we push, the further they pull away or shut down completely.

👉 Want to stay in charge without the yelling? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents trade shouting for calm, earn their teen's respect, and go from walking on eggshells to enjoying their teen again. Try it free for 7 days at askdrcam.com/academy

José Rolón, known as NYC Gay Dad, raised his son and twin daughters as a single dad for t...

"I'm only trying to help, but every question makes my teen go quieter."

When your teen won't talk, what looks like defiance may be a sign they don't feel heard. The harder we push, fix, or force connection, the further they often pull away or shut down.

👉 Want your teen to open up to you again? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn what to say when their teen shuts down, trade guessing for calm, and go from walking on eggshells to enjoying their teen again. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I s...

Is your teen hiding things from you? It can feel like the tighter we hold on, the faster they pull away. Strict rules, phone bans, and grounding can seem like the safest way to protect our teens. But often they just teach teens to hide things better.

👉 Want to stay close without the power struggles? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to loosen control without losing their footing, keep their teen talking, and become the safe place their teen keeps coming back to. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Zar...

Have you ever blamed your teen's eye rolls, impulsive choices, or big reactions on their "underdeveloped brain"? The teen brain keeps developing into the mid-20s, but that doesn't mean teens can't make good decisions. In fact, adolescence is one of the most important times for them to practice.

👉 Want discipline that teaches instead of backfires? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to set limits without punishment, stay calm when their teen messes up, and raise a teen who comes to them instead of hiding. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit dow...

Does it feel like you're talking to a wall? You ask, remind, repeat, and still nothing. It's easy to decide your teen is being defiant. But often, something else is going on.

👉 Tired of repeating yourself? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to get through without nagging, stay calm instead of reactive, and get their teen talking and listening again. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. R.J. Ledet, a psychiatrist trained in pediatrics, adult psychiatry, and child and adolescent psychiatry, a Navy veteran, and co-founder of The 15 Whi...

Stop Overparenting: What Your Teen Actually Needs to Thrive | John Fogle

Are you constantly worrying about your teen's grades, screen time, choices, or attitude? It's easy to get caught up in the small stuff when you're trying to set your teen up for success. But some of the things parents work hardest to control may actually get in the way of the skills teens need most.

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with parenting researcher, data analyst, and author John Fogle to explore what really matters when raising teens. Together, they discuss why overprotecting...

Are you constantly battling your teen over their phone? With worries about screen time, social media, and teen mental health everywhere, taking the phone away can feel like the only way to protect them. But what if the phone isn't the root of the problem?

👉 Tired of fighting about phones? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to set phone limits without the daily battles, stay calm when their teen pushes back, and get their teen talking to them again. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a sch...

Why does your teen trigger you so fast? One eye roll, one tone, and suddenly you're reacting in ways you swore you never would. It's easy to focus on changing your teen's behavior. But many of us carry wounds from our own childhood that shape how we respond to conflict, criticism, and connection with our teens.

👉 Want to stay calm when your teen pushes your buttons? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to respond instead of react, repair after hard moments, and build the secure relationship they wish they'd had. Try it free for 7 days

In...

Do conversations with your teen often turn into arguments, silence, or frustration? Many of us try to help by giving advice, solving problems, or closely managing our teen's life. But those well-meant efforts can push teens away.

👉 Ready to stop the power struggles? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to step back without checking out, listen instead of lecture, and become the person their teen wants to come to. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with JoAnn Crohn, a certified parent coach, bestselling author, and host of the No Guilt Mom...

Parenting Anxious Teens: How to Build Confidence Instead of Fear | Dana Colthart

Does your teen avoid challenges, shut down under pressure, or constantly seek reassurance? It can be hard to know whether they're simply nervous or struggling with anxiety—and many of the ways parents naturally try to help can actually make anxiety worse.

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with licensed clinical social worker Dana Colthart, who specializes in treating OCD, anxiety, panic disorders, and eating disorders, to discuss practical strategies for supporting anxious teens. Together, they explain why avoidance strengthens anxiety, how pa...

Talking to your teen about sex is one of the conversations we dread most. But avoiding it can leave teens turning to friends, social media, or porn for answers. So how do you have an honest conversation without making everyone want to disappear?

👉 Want your teen to come to you with the hard questions? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn what to say in awkward moments, stay calm when the topic gets uncomfortable, and become the person their teen trusts with the big stuff. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down wit...

Does it feel like you're always competing with your teen's phone for their attention? Many of us worry that endless scrolling is replacing curiosity, conversation, and family time. But what if getting your teen off their phone isn't about taking it away? What if it's about giving them something better to move toward?

👉 Want your teen to choose time with you over another hour of scrolling? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to set screen limits without the battles, connect through their teen's interests, and get their teen talking to them again. Try it free for 7 days

Co-parenting is hard enough when both parents are on the same team. When your co-parent is narcissistic, or turns every parenting decision into a competition, it can leave you exhausted, second-guessing yourself, and worried about your kids.

👉 Feeling like you're holding the whole thing together? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll find calm ways to handle the hard moments, steady support, and a community of parents who get it, so your home can be the safe place your teen needs. Try it free for 7 days (www.skool.com/parenting-teens-academy.)

In this episode, I sit down with cli...

Grief in teens rarely looks the way we expect. Instead of tears and open conversations, it often shows up as irritability, withdrawal, risk-taking, or emotional distance. That can leave us wondering whether our teen is grieving at all, or how to help if they are, especially when we're grieving too.

👉 Trying to hold your teen up while you're running on empty? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll find steady support from me, a community of parents who get it, and calm ways to stay close to your teen through the hardest seasons. Try it free for 7 days

...

Is your teen struggling with ADHD or anxiety, or with being a teenager? More teens than ever are being diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and autism. In this episode, child and adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Sami Timimi joins me to talk about when a diagnosis helps and when it gets in the way.

👉 Want to know when to worry and when to breathe? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to respond to their teen with calm and clarity, fight less about grades, phones, and attitude, and get their teen talking to them again. Try it free for 7 days

If your teenager suddenly seems distant, emotional, or wants nothing to do with you, you’re not failing as a parent — and you’re definitely not alone. In this eye-opening episode of the Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam Podcast, Dr. Cam Caswell sits down with Aliyah Singh, Hannah Ticajo, and Caitlin Severin from CultivaTeen Roots to unpack the real reason teens push parents away — and why it’s actually a normal part of adolescent development.

Together, they explore the science behind parenting teens, emotional safety, communication, self-regulation, and healthy family relationships. You’ll learn why controlling behavior often damage...

How do you raise a confident, resilient, successful teen? Sheinelle Jones interviewed the moms behind some of the most extraordinary people of our time, including Lady Gaga, Serena and Venus Williams, Steph Curry, and the Jonas Brothers, to find out.

👉 Wondering if you're doing this right? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents trade second-guessing for confidence, stay present without losing their cool, and build the kind of relationship their teen comes back to as an adult. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Sheinelle Jones, co-host of Today with Jenna & Sheinelle and...

If your teen is hiding things or not telling you the full truth, it can feel like you're losing them. And our instinct is to tighten the rules, ask more questions, and stay on top of everything.

But here's the part most parents aren't told. Teen secrecy usually isn't about rebellion or disrespect. It's about development.

👉 Want to be the one your teen comes to when it matters most? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can make honesty feel safe, stay calm when the truth is hard to hear, and kee...

What would you do if your teen told you a classmate was making threats? Most of us freeze, unsure whether to panic, dismiss it, or act.

👉 Connection is one of the strongest protections a teen has. Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn how to stay close, notice when something's off, and become the person their teen turns to when life gets hard. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Hockley, co-founder of Sandy Hook Promise, who lost her six-year-old son Dylan in the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting. We talk about one...

If consequences used to work… and now they just lead to more attitude, shutdowns, or the same fights on repeat—this episode will explain why.

If you’re parenting a teen and struggling with defiance, power struggles, or constant pushback… you’re not alone.

Because it’s not that your teen suddenly stopped caring.

It’s that their brain has changed—and the tools that worked before don’t work the same way anymore.

In this episode, Dr. Cam sits down with Charle Peck, LCSW, M.Ed., an international keynote speaker, clinical therapist...

Are you constantly worried your teen is making bad choices, and feel like consequences are the only way to teach them a lesson? You're not alone, and you're not wrong to care.

But what if the very thing we do to prevent bad decisions is making them worse?

👉 Want to stop policing and start guiding? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can stay calm when your teen messes up, guide better choices without power struggles, and raise a teen who thinks for themselves. Try it free for 7 days

In...

Teaching your teen to drive can feel terrifying. And if your teen is nervous behind the wheel, or keeps putting off getting their license, you're not alone. Many teens today feel anxious about driving, and the way we approach practice can either build their confidence or make the anxiety worse.

👉 Want to stay calm in the passenger seat and everywhere else? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to coach instead of criticize, keep their cool in stressful moments, and raise a teen who trusts them. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit dow...

Is your teen acting entitled, ungrateful, or selfish, no matter how much you do for them? You're not alone, and it may not mean what you think.

👉 Want to raise a grateful teen without the guilt trips? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can build responsibility and gratitude without shame, stay calm when your teen seems ungrateful, and keep your relationship strong. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I explain why teen entitlement is often a normal part of growing up. It's rooted in brain changes, identity formation, and...

Teen boys shutting down can feel like rejection, but it’s usually self-protection. If your teen son won’t talk, gives one-word answers, or avoids conversations completely, this episode will help you understand what’s going on—and what actually works.

Dr. Cam Caswell (adolescent psychologist + certified parenting coach) and licensed professional counselor Jarrod Hoffman break down teen communication, emotional withdrawal, and trust-building strategies that help parents reconnect with teen boys. You’ll learn how to stop the lecture cycle, use reflective listening, and create emotional safety so your teenage son opens up again.

What You’ll Lea...

Does your teen talk back or turn every conversation into a debate? You're not alone.

In this episode, I flip the script on what talking back means. What if your teen's arguing isn't disrespect but development? Those debates can be signs of growing critical thinking, identity, and moral reasoning.

👉 Tired of every disagreement turning into a power struggle? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can stay in charge without escalating, handle pushback with calm, and get your teen talking to you instead of fighting you. Try it free for 7 days

Fighting with your teen about screens doesn’t mean you’re failing. It usually means you’re focusing on the wrong thing.

In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I’m joined by Stephen Balkam, Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, who brings 30 years of experience helping families navigate online safety without fear or power struggles.

We break down why traditional screen time rules backfire, why screen use matters more than minutes, and how parents can stay influential in a world where teens are using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude f...

Teenager won't do chores? If you've asked your teen to help around the house and they reacted like you just requested a kidney, welcome.

Here's the thing. The chore battle usually isn't about the chore. It's about what happens after you ask. The stalling. The eye rolls. The "in a minute." The sudden, deep commitment to scrolling. And you repeating yourself until your voice hits a pitch only dogs can hear.

👉 Tired of being the household nag? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can get help around the house without the...

A lot of us see the hours, hear the headphones, and picture the worst. Strangers. Predators. Secret chats. And the big one: "Is my kid addicted to this?"

👉 Want to set screen limits without the eye rolls and blowups? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to talk about tech without a fight, set limits their teen respects, and get their teen talking to them again. Try it free for 7 days

So in this episode, I brought in someone who knows what's happening behind the scenes at Roblox. Tami Bhaumik is Vice President of Civility and Par...

Eye rolls. Heavy sighs. That sharp, snarky tone that flips your nervous system in half a second.

If your teen's "nasty attitude" instantly makes you think disrespect, defiance, or this needs to stop now, this episode will change how you see it.

👉 Want to stop the tone without starting a war? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, you'll learn my COLLABORATE Method, so you can stay calm when the attitude hits, hold boundaries without power struggles, and build respect that lasts. Try it free for 7 days

This episode kicks off a new series on teen beh...

Is your teen confiding in ChatGPT instead of you? Generative AI is now part of almost every corner of teen life, and it happened so fast that many of us feel a step behind. Are teens using AI to learn, to cheat, or something in between? Are they turning to it for emotional support? And what should we worry about versus react to out of fear?

👉 Want to be the one your teen turns to first? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to talk about tech and AI without lectures, stay calm when something worries them, and bec...

Struggling with your teen's late nights, groggy mornings, and endless battles over bedtime? You're not alone, and you're not imagining it.

👉 Want bedtime without the battle and mornings without the struggle? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to set routines without nagging, stay calm at bedtime, and raise a teen who takes charge of their own mornings. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with certified Ayurvedic practitioner Nidhi Pandya to talk about why traditional sleep rules often fail with teenagers. We talk about how the teen body clock shifts during ado...

Is your teen's bathroom counter starting to look like a Sephora exploded? You're not imagining it. The teen skincare craze is real, and TikTok is fueling it. But here's what most parents don't realize: many trendy products, harsh ingredients, and 10-step routines can damage teen skin.

👉 Want to guide your teen's choices without a power struggle? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to talk about trends, spending, and self-image without lectures, and become the voice their teen listens to over TikTok. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, sponsored by Bright Girl Skincare, I sit...

If homework has turned into an exhausting nightly standoff, this episode is for you. Teens with ADHD aren't stubborn or unmotivated. They're stuck, thanks to executive functioning challenges like getting started, time blindness, working memory, and overwhelm.

👉 Tired of the nightly homework standoff? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn what to say when their teen is stuck, stay calm instead of pushing harder, and protect the relationship while the homework gets done. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with neurodivergent therapist Holly Blanc Moses. We talk about how shame and the...

"I love my teen, but I don't like them right now." If you've ever thought that, you're far from the only one. When your teen is defiant, distant, or disconnected, love can feel hard to find.

👉 Want to enjoy your teen again? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to stop the yelling cycle, repair after hard moments, and move from constant conflict to calm, connected conversations. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, author of Love the Teen You Have. She explains why the teen bra...

Why do I get so angry at my teenager? If your teen's backtalk or eye roll hits you harder than it should, and you've caught yourself thinking, "Why do I lose it over something so small?" this episode is for you.

👉 Tired of losing it over the small stuff? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to catch their triggers before they explode, repair after hard moments, and bring more calm into their home. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Shelly Robinson, certified conscious parenting coach and founder of Raising You...

When parenting a teenager turns into a battleground between parents, everyone suffers, including your teen. One parent becomes the "tough one," the other becomes the "soft one," and teens quickly learn how to play the gap.

👉 Tired of being the bad cop, or the pushover? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to stay calm when they disagree, find common ground on the big decisions, and present a united front without pretending to agree on everything. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish. We talk about why...

Is your teenager melting down after school, snapping at you, or shutting down completely? You're not alone, and it may not be bad behavior.

👉 Want calmer evenings and fewer blowups? Inside Parenting Teens Academy, parents learn to stay steady when their teen explodes, spot the signs before a meltdown, and become the safe place their teen comes back to. Try it free for 7 days

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jim Costello, creator of the Costello Method, to talk about why teen emotional explosions are often a nervous system in overload, not disrespect. We...