(And why what you’ve been told might be missing the full picture) Aggression in teenagers is one of the most confronting — and misunderstood — experiences families can go through. It doesn’t just “happen.” It doesn’t always respond to consequences. And it often leaves parents carrying two weights at once: The pain of what’s happening, and the guilt of believing it’s their fault. So instead of offering advice or strategies in this post, we’re going deeper — to unpack the why  

In today’s digital world, parents can’t protect what they don’t understand. Your teen shouldn’t be teaching you how TikTok or Snapchat works — but they can show you how they use it. When parents stay curious instead of fearful, connection replaces control. Understanding your teenager’s online world is one of the quietest yet most powerful ways to keep them safe, grounded, and open to you.

This year’s John Lewis Christmas ad captures something deeper than nostalgia — a lesson in mentalising. When a teenager buys his dad a record, he’s really saying, “I see you.” It’s a quiet reminder that family harmony grows when we learn to hold another mind in mind — to imagine what life feels like for each other. That moment of perspective is where connection, empathy, and healing begin.

What’s Really Going On Beneath the Behaviour A vibrant array of colorful pills and capsules float gracefully against a soft blue background, evoking a sense of surreal suspension. When you hear the phrase “ teenagers and substance misuse ,”  what comes to mind? Be honest with yourself for a moment. Do you think of danger? Addiction? Bad influences? Maybe even failure — “ Where did I go wrong?” It’s understandable. Those associations are deeply cultural. We’ve been taught to s

Teenager and Screen time. What's really going on beneath the scroll

When teenagers withdraw, sleep all day, or say “I don’t care anymore,” it may not be attitude—it may be teen depression. Teen mental health struggles often hide behind difficult behaviour. This isn’t bad parenting; it’s a sign of overwhelm. At Rainbow Parenting Practice, Pei-I Yang helps parents understand teenage depression, rebuild connection, and bring calm back to family life.

Discover why your teen isn’t lazy but overwhelmed. Learn how to deal with difficult teenage behaviour and rebuild calm, trust, and motivation at home.

Netflix’s new thriller Wayward is more than edge-of-your-seat drama. On the surface, it’s about a picturesque town, a charismatic leader (played by Toni Collette), and a therapeutic school for troubled teens hiding dark secrets.

Hello, I’m Pei I , founder of Rainbow Parenting Practice . For over three decades I’ve worked with families of the most vulnerable and challenging teenagers. I understand what it’s like to feel completely stuck, to try everything and still watch your teen spiral deeper into crisis. When families are overwhelmed and desperate, the first instinct is often to ask for more tips or strategies. But what actually helps is not more advice. What helps is someone who can walk alongside

When your teenager is struggling, you will do whatever it takes to help them. You’ll book therapy. You’ll see specialists. You’ll rearrange your life, your finances, your priorities. Because nothing matters more than seeing your child happy, safe, and thriving again. But what happens when you’ve already  done all of that… and nothing seems to be working? Your teenager is still withdrawn, angry, or explosive. The house is still tense. Your marriage or co-parenting relationship

Inspired by Netflix series Ginny and Georgia  Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia struck a nerve for many viewers—not because of its dramatic twists, but because of how deeply it mirrors the emotional weight so many modern mothers carry. While the story centres on a mother and daughter navigating life after trauma, what resonates most isn’t the plot—it’s the pattern. The invisible legacy of survival. How the pain we’ve endured becomes the parenting script we follow—whether we mean to o

Sibling relationships are among the most enduring and emotionally charged bonds in our lives. They can be sources of profound support, deep understanding, and lifelong friendship. Yet, they can also harbour intense rivalry, unresolved resentment, and painful estrangement. As a family therapist specialising in adolescent behaviour and systemic family patterns, I've observed that the dynamics between siblings are often shaped long before any overt conflict arises. These dynamic

The concept of “reparenting yourself”  has become a popular buzzword in personal growth circles. It suggests that by healing your inner child, you can overcome adult challenges. There’s some truth here — our childhood experiences do  shape who we are. But what's often overlooked is that they're not the only  thing  that shapes who we are. There are many forces at play: The family system we grew up in The culture that raised us The relationships that formed our self-worth The

They Don’t Listen. You’ve Tried Everything. And Nothing Works. You ask them to turn the game off. They ignore you. You remind them again—now they’re shouting. You shout back. Now no one is listening. Again. If this is what your home sounds like, you’re not alone. And you’re not failing. Every week, I work with parents who say: “I talk and talk, but nothing lands.” “Every conversation ends in conflict.” “They listen to everyone else—but not me.” You’ve probably felt all the th

Blog inspired by Netflix Series - Adolescence The Silence of Our Sons In homes across the world, teenage boys are retreating into silence or erupting in rage. Parents watch, bewildered, as their once communicative sons become distant, volatile, or both. This isn't a phase or mere teenage angst. It’s the culmination of unseen emotional wounds  — shaped by societal expectations, reinforced within family systems, and magnified by how different cultures and communities view emoti

Balancing Technology and Creativity: Navigating Social Media with Your Teenager. In the Netflix series Adolescence , we witness a raw portrayal of teenage volatility: online obsessions, social media spirals, and digital personas formed in place of identity. It’s dramatic, yes — but it’s also frighteningly close to reality. For many families, watching the show feels eerily familiar. The sudden mood shifts. The late-night scrolling. The child who once shared everything now hidi

The Netflix series Adolescence  attempts to raise awareness of social influences on the teenage mind and maybe also with the hope to show us the chaos of their mind — but for me watching as a Family Therapist, I don't just see the influence of the social media, but more complex issues that have not been shown or voiced in the series. Let's start with the violence, when-masculinity-turns-violent-what-the-netflix-series-adolescence-gets-right-and-what-it-doesn-tthe breakdowns,

Blending two families into one is a deeply complex and emotional process. While parents often approach this transition with the best intentions—hoping to create love, stability, and security for their children—blended families rarely come together seamlessly. For children, this isn’t a change they asked for, and it often disrupts their sense of identity, loyalty, and belonging. Unlike traditional families, where relationships develop organically over time, blended families mu

Imagine your teenager has a list. Not a bucket list or a to-do list — but a private, invisible log of every moment they’ve felt dismissed, unheard, or misunderstood. Every broken promise. Every eye-roll at their emotions. Every time they were told to "calm down" instead of being asked what was wrong. This isn’t a list of grudges. It’s a list of ruptures. And whether you’ve seen it or not — it’s shaping the emotional climate in your home. But here’s the powerful part: if we’re

This is probably the first step parents would take when their teenagers are acting out royal style or showing withdrawal and concerning behaviour. I get it because the whole world is telling you therapy is the next step to take. But is it though? Let's look at this a bit more.. (you can also watch the video above) When families come to me with problems like… 👉Suddenly my teenager is not interested in school and even when they attend school, they are not engaging or doing th