Your family’s environment goes beyond the house you live in. It encompasses everything from the structure and dynamics to the traditions and values. You might not give much thought to the environment on a daily basis, as many aspects seem to be second nature or have been around for so long that you might not even recognize potential negative impacts on your teen. 

Your family’s dynamics can play a significant role in the mental and emotional health of your teen. Trying to make it as healthy as possible can help reduce their distress, establish their strong sense of self and give them the tools they need to grow into the best version of themselves.

Healthy family dynamics can help your teen in a number of ways, including:

• Seeing examples for what they deserve in friendships and romantic relationships
• Developing a strong moral compass from the values instilled in them at home
• Learning how to effectively communicate their feelings
• Developing respect and empathy for others
• Learning conflict resolution skills that reduce the risk of escalation
• Feeling safe and valued by their family

There are a variety of ways that you can build and maintain a healthy family environment that will help your teen both now and for years to come. Here are a few things you can do:

• Respect boundaries

Love and respect go hand in hand. Love is the foundation of every healthy family environment, and respect is a fundamental value that should be instilled in every member. Respecting your teen’s boundaries is an act of love because it’s establishing a sense of trust.

Your teen can set boundaries, or limits, that protect their mental, emotional and physical well-being that can be impacted by other people. Examples include not being hugged unless they initiate it, or requesting that you don’t provide advice unless they ask for it. When everyone in a household respects each other’s boundaries, everyone can feel safe and supported.

• Talk through issues 

Conflict resolution is a good skill for teens to develop, and it can start at home. Issues shouldn’t just be brushed under the rug for the sake of “keeping the peace” in the house. When there’s an issue that you’re having or one that you see occurring between other members, try to put the problem out in the open. The issue should be discussed with empathy and understanding so that a solution can be reached.

If your teen sees that issues are handled effectively at home, they’ll understand how to properly handle conflicts with others in the future.

• Show appreciation for one another

Family should never be taken for granted, and neither should each individual in that family. Even when life gets too chaotic, always take a moment to recognize the success of other family members and show how much you value them. By building a family environment with acknowledgment and appreciation, you can help your teen recognize their worth and take pride in the support system they can find at home. 

• Encourage expression of feelings

Teens who feel like they aren’t being heard or like they are constantly being misunderstood by those around them may feel tentative to open up about their emotions at all. Try to create an open line of communication throughout the home. Encourage an environment where people are free to express their emotions and know they’ll be met with empathy, validation and active listening.

• Prioritize quality time

When your teen is struggling with their mental health or experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, they may be tempted to withdraw from others. Try your best to put aside time on a regular basis for the family to spend time with one another. By establishing it as a tradition, it’s something that your teen can depend on, even when they are tempted to hide away in their room. It also reinforces your family bonds and creates memories.

Even though you can’t fix all of your teen’s problems for them, you can help them develop the tools and beliefs at home that can help them navigate mental health challenges. With a healthy family environment, your teen can feel like they can always lean on their family for support.

If your teen needs further support for their mental health beyond what’s provided at home or outpatient therapy, Lightfully’s three levels of care can help:

• Residential Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization Program 
• Intensive Outpatient Program

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step to helping your teen, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of them.