Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

Teen boys shutting down can feel like rejection, but it’s usually self-protection. If your teen son won’t talk, gives one-word answers, or avoids conversations completely, this episode will help you understand what’s going on—and what actually works.

Dr. Cam Caswell (adolescent psychologist + certified parenting coach) and licensed professional counselor Jarrod Hoffman break down teen communication, emotional withdrawal, and trust-...

If it feels like every conversation with your teen turns into a debate… you’re not alone.

In this episode, Dr. Cam flips the script on what “talking back” really means. What if your teen’s arguing isn’t disrespect… but development? What if those debates are actually signs of growing critical thinking, identity formation, and moral reasoning?

You’ll learn why shutting down arguments with “because I said so” may create more power str...

Fighting with your teen about screens doesn’t mean you’re failing. It usually means you’re focusing on the wrong thing.

In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I’m joined by Stephen Balkam, Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute, who brings 30 years of experience helping families navigate online safety without fear or power struggles.

We break down why traditional screen time rules backfire, why screen use m...

If you’ve asked your teen to do a chore and they responded like you just requested a kidney… welcome. 🫠

Because here’s the thing: the chore battle usually isn’t about the chore. It’s about what happens after you ask—the stalling, the eye rolls, the “in a minute,” the sudden deep commitment to scrolling, and you repeating yourself until your voice hits a pitch only dogs can hear.

In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, Dr....

A lot of parents see the hours, hear the headphones, and picture the worst: strangers, predators, secret chats, and “Is my kid addicted to this?!”

So in this episode, I brought in someone who actually knows what’s happening behind the scenes at Roblox: Tami Bhaumik, Vice President of Civility and Partnerships at Roblox. And let me tell you—this conversation will either calm your nervous system… or at least give you a real plan.

Eye rolls. Heavy sighs. That sharp, snarky tone that flips your nervous system in half a second.

If your teen’s “nasty attitude” instantly makes you think disrespect, defiance, or this needs to stop now, this episode will change how you see everything.

In Episode #269 of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I kick off a brand-new series unpacking teen behaviors parents punish — even though they’re often signs of healthy development. And w...

Generative AI like ChatGPT is now woven into nearly every part of teen life, and many parents feel unsettled by how fast it all happened. Are teens using AI tools like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to learn, to cheat, or something in between? Are they turning to AI for emotional support? And what should parents actually be worried about versus reacting out of fear?

In this episode, Dr. Cam pulls back the curtain on how teens are really ...

Struggling with your teen’s late nights, groggy mornings, and endless battles over bedtime? You’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it. In this powerful episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, certified Ayurvedic practitioner Nidhi Pandya breaks down why traditional sleep rules fail with teenagers and reveals a compassionate, science-backed approach that finally works. She explains how teen circadian rhythms shift ...

Is your teen’s bathroom counter starting to look like a Sephora exploded? You’re not imagining it—the teen skincare craze is real, and TikTok is fueling it. But here’s what most parents don’t realize: all those trendy products, harsh ingredients, and 10-step routines can actually damage teen skin. In this must-hear episode, Dr. Cam sits down with Dr. Angela Casey, double board-certified dermatologist, skin cancer surgeon, mom of th...

If homework has turned into an exhausting nightly standoff, this episode is for you. Dr. Cam and neurodivergent therapist Holly Blanc Moses reveal why ADHD teens aren’t “stubborn” or “unmotivated”—they’re stuck due to executive functioning challenges like task initiation, time blindness, working memory, and overwhelm.

You’ll learn how shame and the expectation–capacity gap make starting feel impossible, and you’ll get brain-based, ...

Struggling to connect with your teenager? You’re not alone. In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, pediatric psychologist Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart shares transformative, brain-based strategies to help parents rebuild connection with defiant, distant, or disconnected teens.

Learn why the phrase “I love my teen, but I don’t like them right now” resonates so deeply with parents—and how to move from constant conflict to calm, ...

Ever wonder why your teen’s backtalk or eye roll hits you harder than it should? 🧠 In this powerful episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, adolescent psychologist Dr. Cam Caswell sits down with Shelly Robinson, certified conscious parenting coach and founder of Raising Yourself, to uncover why your child’s behavior often activates your deepest wounds—and how healing your own past can completely transform your relationship.

Shell...

When parenting teenagers becomes a battleground between parents, everyone suffers—including your teen. Dr. Cam and couples therapist Dr. Tracy Dalgleish tackle the common problem of parental division, where one parent becomes the “tough one” while the other takes on the “soft” role, creating conflict that teens often exploit.

This episode reveals why parents frequently end up on opposite sides of the parenting spectrum, especially ...

Is your teenager melting down after school, snapping at you, or shutting down completely? You’re not alone—and it’s not “bad behavior.” In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, adolescent psychologist Dr. Cam Caswell sits down with Dr. Jim Costello, creator of the Costello Method, to reveal why teen emotional explosions are actually neurological responses to overload—not disrespect. You’ll discover why “sit still and listen...

If your teen feels distant, defiant, or shuts you out, you’re not alone — and there’s hope. In this powerful episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, foster and adoptive dad Peter Mutabazi shares life-changing strategies for reconnecting with even the most resistant teenagers.

A survivor of childhood abuse and homelessness who’s since fostered 47 children, Peter explains why teens are actually “easier” to parent than younger ...

Struggling with your teen’s hygiene habits? You’re not alone. Many parents face daily battles over showers, deodorant, and brushing teeth—leaving everyone frustrated. In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I sit down with Carly Broderick, founder of Myles Personal Care, a gender-inclusive hygiene brand created just for teens and tweens.

Carly shares how her own experience parenting through puberty inspired her to create p...

Guest: Greta Eskridge

As parents, discovering that your teen has been exposed to pornography can spark fear, anger, or even shame. But here’s the truth: nearly every teen will encounter porn at some point—and how you respond matters far more than whether it happens.

In this must-listen episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I’m join...

PODCAST SHOW NOTES FORMAT

Are you stuck in what feels like an emotional Groundhog Day with your teen—where the same arguments, defiance, and standoffs keep repeating? You’re not alone. In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I sit down with therapist and bestselling author Kati Morton to uncover why punishment-based parenting fails with teenagers and how to finally break these frustrating cycles.

Kati explains that adolesc...

Do you feel like you’re constantly walking on eggshells with your teen—afraid that one wrong word will set off an argument? You’re not alone. In this episode of Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam, I sit down with Dr. Jenny Hwang, a clinical psychologist and parent coach with more than 20 years of experience helping families navigate emotional chaos and conflict.

Dr. Hwang reveals why traditional “boundaries” backfire with teens, the surp...