Reaching the Silent Teen

The goal is not to force conversation but to make yourself safe to talk to:

• Read the silence right: It is usually self-protection during identity formation, not rejection.
• Use the side-door: Car rides, cooking, and walks lower face-to-face pressure.
• Listen, don't fix: When they do open up, hear them out before offering advice.
• Create conditions, not conversations: Keep things low-pressure and judgment-free so the words come on their timeline.