Parenting Tween Girls: Christina King on the Teenage Brain

As a teenager, Christina King looked like she was doing everything right — she had good grades, played sports, took advanced classes. But when her mom paused during an argument and asked, “Are you happy?” it changed the course of her life. Today, Christina is a therapist specializing in tween and teen girls, and she shares what’s really happening in the teenage brain, why emotional ups and downs are often developmentally normal, and how parents can stay connected during one of the most intense seasons of growing up.

"I say with teens that sometimes it's like all gas, no brakes."

Note: This episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice. It includes discussion of teen mental health, including self-harm, in the context of helping parents understand and respond.

Hear Christina talk about:

1. The question that led her to therapy as a teen
2. What "all gas, no brakes" means for the adolescent brain
3. Why emotional volatility can be a healthy sign
4. Tween girl friendship dynamics and indirect aggression
5. Social media, comparison culture, and feeling left out
6. The difference between venting mode and problem-solving mode
7. Why parents should depersonalize their teen's emotions

Mentioned in this episode:

1. Christina King Family Therapy
2. Find Christina on Instagram
3. Inside Out 2 (when discussing adolescent emotions)

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