TEENS VS PARENTS... HOW TO AVOID WAR

If a teenager gets cross, Dr Sunderland says parents should try to be empathetic and let the teenager know they understand where their feelings are coming from.

- 

“Say ‘This is really hard for you right now; or ‘You're really cross with me} just like you would with a toddler,’ she advises.

“The power of empathy and understanding will bring stress levels down. So just saying it’s really hard for them has the power of healing parent-child interactions.

If your teen says they hate you, rather than saying ‘Don’t talk to me like that; which can cause “attachment ruptures” Dr Sunderland advises parents to say, ‘You really hate it that I put down that boundary - I get it that you're furious with me”