A key aspect of adolescent development is figuring out a sense of self, autonomy, and knowledge. They are trying to balance out what they like, what their beliefs are, and how they fit in the world with the expectations from their peers.

Unfortunately, there are many people on TikTok (and real-life) that use both clinical and nonclinical terms incorrectly, thanks to a poor understanding of the concept and its origins

If you have a teen in your household or have been around a teen, you know TikTok is probably their most used app.

Generation Z (Gen Z), born between 1997 to 2012 is considered the first generation to not only witness the genesis of the internet but to grow alongside it. With the oldest of the Gen Z youth being in their mid to late 20s, we are able to ascertain both the positive and negative effects of being a digital native.

You and your family have an opportunity for growth and try to do things a little better. You can rebuild that connection that you lost with your teen, just by putting words around that emotion that they couldn’t explain and helping them feel seen.

One of the top goals that I hear from parents in session is “I wish they would communicate with me, and tell me what was going on”. Here's the thing, if we as their parents don’t know how to recognize all the emotions, where are our teens learning it from?