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Gottman Parenting: The Secret Life of Teens
Adolescence is a time of intense emotional growth, vulnerability, and change. While teens may appear distant, reactive, or private on the surface, there is often a rich inner emotional world shaping their behavior. The Secret Life of Teens group is designed to help parents better understand what is happening beneath the surface and how to respond in ways that strengthen connection, trust, and emotional safety.
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This parenting group draws from the research-based framework developed by the Gottman Institute, helping parents learn how teens experience emotions, stress, relationships, and identity development. Rather than focusing on control or correction, the group emphasizes emotional attunement, curiosity, and guidance that support healthy development.
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In this group, parents will learn how to:
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Understand the emotional needs and inner experiences that drive teen behavior
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Respond to big emotions with empathy while maintaining healthy boundaries
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Improve communication during conflict, withdrawal, or emotional shutdown
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Strengthen trust and connection during a stage when teens naturally seek independence
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Support emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and resilience
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Teens today face heightened emotional pressures related to school, social relationships, identity formation, and expectations from others. When parents understand how teens process emotions internally, they are better equipped to respond in ways that reduce power struggles and increase cooperation and closeness.
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Why This Program Matters
Grounded in decades of research by John Gottman and Julie Gottman, this program offers practical, evidence-based strategies for navigating the emotional world of adolescence. Parents gain tools to foster emotional safety, guide teens through challenges, and maintain strong relationships during one of the most developmentally sensitive stages of life.
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This group is ideal for parents who want to better understand their teen’s emotional world and build a relationship rooted in trust, respect, and long-term emotional health.
Gottman Parenting: Teen Success: Cultivating Purpose and Achievement. Life Transitions & Letting Go (Ages 13-18)
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Cultivating Purpose, Direction, and Resilience
Raising a teenager can feel increasingly complex, especially when motivation, direction, or engagement seem to fade. Many parents notice their teens struggling to find meaning, confidence, or a clear sense of purpose during these critical years. This group is designed to support parents in guiding their teens toward greater clarity, resilience, and healthy achievement.
The Teen Success: Cultivating Purpose and Achievement program offers a structured, research-informed approach to understanding what drives teen disengagement and how to respond in ways that strengthen growth rather than conflict. Parents learn practical, relationship-based strategies that support motivation, emotional development, and long-term success.
In this group, parents will learn how to:
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Understand the emotional and developmental roots of teen disengagement and respond effectively
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Support grit and resilience when teens face setbacks, stress, or self-doubt
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Encourage a growth mindset that promotes learning, responsibility, and confidence
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Help teens develop a sense of purpose, direction, and internal motivation
Many teens today report feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure of their path forward. This program addresses those challenges directly, helping parents foster environments where teens feel supported, capable, and motivated to move toward meaningful goals.
Why This Program Matters
Grounded in over 50 years of research by John Gottman and Julie Gottman, this group draws from the evidence-based principles of the Gottman Institute. Parents gain clear, practical tools to strengthen connection, guide character development, and support their teen’s emerging identity.​ This program is ideal for parents seeking thoughtful, research-backed guidance during the often challenging adolescent years, with the goal of helping teens build a foundation for purpose, resilience, and lifelong growth.
Gottman Parenting: The Science of the Teenage Mind
The teenage years bring rapid changes in brain development that directly impact emotions, decision-making, risk-taking, and behavior. What can appear as defiance, impulsivity, or emotional volatility is often the result of a developing brain learning how to regulate itself. The Science of the Teenage Mind group helps parents understand these neurological and emotional shifts so they can respond with greater clarity, patience, and effectiveness.
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This parenting group is informed by the research-based approach of the Gottman Institute, translating neuroscience and developmental research into practical tools parents can use in everyday interactions. By understanding how the teenage brain functions, parents are better equipped to guide behavior while maintaining connection and emotional safety.
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In this group, parents will learn how to:
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Understand how brain development influences teen emotions, reasoning, and impulse control
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Respond to emotional intensity and reactivity in ways that support regulation and learning
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Reduce power struggles by aligning expectations with developmental capacity
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Support better decision-making, problem-solving, and accountability
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Strengthen connection while fostering increasing independence
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During adolescence, the brain regions responsible for emotion and reward mature faster than those responsible for planning and self-control. This imbalance can lead to heightened reactions and inconsistent judgment. Parents who understand this process are better able to guide teens through challenges without escalating conflict or misunderstanding intent.
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Why This Program Matters
Grounded in decades of research by John Gottman and Julie Gottman, this program integrates developmental neuroscience with relationship science. Parents gain evidence-based strategies to support emotional regulation, healthy boundaries, and long-term growth during this critical stage of brain development.
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This group is ideal for parents seeking a deeper understanding of how the teenage brain works and how to parent in ways that are developmentally informed, compassionate, and effective.