Psychologist Özge Sert explained the ways of establishing healthy and trust-based communication with adolescents and said, “It is very important to empathize, communicate clearly and accurately, and be firm in boundaries and rules. A healthy communication environment based on trust is one of the important building blocks to be provided during adolescence.”
Adolescence is a transition period in which the individual tries to discover their identity and social roles and focuses on gaining autonomy. While adolescents tend to become independent from the family and attach more importance to peer relations and social acceptance, Psychologist Özge Sert from Onma Psychology made statements on the subject.
“Express your feelings and thoughts clearly”
Psychologist Sert stated that during adolescence, young people experience emotional fluctuations and conflicts due to the process of finding themselves and testing boundaries and said, “It is very important to empathize during adolescence. Take care to understand your child's feelings. Adolescence is a period of intense emotions and young people may have difficulty expressing these emotions. Listening to their feelings without judgment or minimization can help them feel safe. Communicate clearly and accurately with your children. Express your feelings and thoughts clearly. Likewise, give your child space to express himself/herself freely. Make them feel that you care about their ideas and that you are ready to listen to them.”
“Find common ground”
Psychologist Özge Sert explained that it is important to find common ground with adolescents and then said the following:
“Be firm on boundaries and rules. Adolescents may find boundaries and rules rigid and may consider them unimportant. Be consistent and decisive when setting boundaries. However, be fair in setting these limits, taking into account your child's needs and opinions. Allow him/her to express himself/herself and contribute to the process of setting rules. Explain the reasons for the rules and get their thoughts and feelings. Meet in the middle by cooperating. This will make it easier for him/her to adapt to the rules and feel that he/she and his/her ideas are valuable. Stay calm in critical moments. Of course there will be arguments. It is very important to stay calm in moments of argument. Speaking loudly or reacting harshly can make your child even more defensive. Instead, you can try to talk to him or her calmly.”
“Respect your child's individuality”
Emphasizing that parents spending quality time with adolescents will strengthen their bonds, Psychologist Özge Sert from Onma Psychology said, “Be a partner in the interests of adolescents and spend quality time with them. Ask questions about his/her interests and chat about them. This will strengthen your bond and help show your care and love for him/her. Allow him/her to develop his/her own personality. Adolescence is a critical period for identity development. Adolescents are trying to gain autonomy. Respect your child's individuality and allow him/her to make his/her own decisions. This will increase his/her self-confidence and reinforce trust between you. Children grow and develop by using their parents as role models. Demonstrate how you express your emotions in a healthy way, how you resolve conflicts and show empathy as an example to your child.”
“Communication based on trust plays a critical role”
Stating that a trust-based communication environment is an important building block during adolescence, Psychologist Özge Sert said, “Establishing a healthy and trust-based communication with your child plays a critical role in his/her development and emotional health. This communication increases the child's ability to express themselves, improves their ability to cope with their problems, helps them build healthy social relationships and contributes to the development of emotional intelligence. As a result, a healthy communication environment based on trust is one of the important building blocks to be provided during adolescence.”
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