Episode

Episode 234: Does My Teen Really Need Counseling?

Podcast
Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood
Published
Jan 20, 2026
Duration seconds
1774
Processing state
not_requested
Canonical source
https://redcircle.com/shows/ee1946d1-f358-4c27-a8c9-3d24cb517ac7/episodes/daa24902-a668-4702-8fd6-ad77b5b5b98b
Audio
https://audio4.redcircle.com/episodes/daa24902-a668-4702-8fd6-ad77b5b5b98b/stream.mp3
JSON
/v1/public/podcasts/feeding-the-mouth-that-bites-you-parenting-teens-into-adulthood-22326/episodes/episode-234-does-my-teen-really-need-counseling
Markdown
/podcast/feeding-the-mouth-that-bites-you-parenting-teens-into-adulthood-22326/episode-234-does-my-teen-really-need-counseling.md

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Summary

This week’s episode was important enough to re-record: when (and if) you should push your teen to go to therapy. Cynthia and Dr. Ken unpack what therapy actually is, why forcing a resistant teen rarely works, and the surprising ways counseling can sometimes do more harm than good. Dr. Ken explains how to recognize when therapy becomes necessary, why parent coaching often helps more than sending a reluctant teenager, and what to consider when choosing a counselor—including privacy boundaries, insurance realities, and whether your teen truly needs a Christian therapist. They also address one of parents’ biggest fears: what to do when you’re worried about your child’s safety. With a practical, steady framework, Dr. Ken walks through how to assess real risk versus normal emotional overwhelm and how to respond without panic. Today’s show is for anyone wondering whether counseling is the right next step. If you have a minute, please leave us a review. We love hearing listeners encouraging other listeners. You can order Dr. Ken's book "Feeding The Mouth That Bites You" here You can order Cynthia's book "Life Is Messy, God Is Good" here You can pre-order Cynthia's book "How'd I Miss That" here Got questions or feedback? We want to hear from you! [email protected] Music provided by the great John David Kent - https://www.johndavidkent.com/ Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy