Understanding Big Teen Emotions with Katie K. May

In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to licensed professional counsellor, nationally recognized teen therapist, and author Katie K. May about teen behaviour and mental health.

Blending clinical expertise with her lived experience as a former “teen on fire,” May helps parents understand why emotional dysregulation is so common during adolescence and how to distinguish everyday teen behaviour from true warning signs.

She explains why validation is often more effective than trying to fix the problem, explores why some teens turn to self-harm as a coping strategy, and shares practical ways parents can stay calm, avoid escalating conflict, and rebuild trust with a disengaged teen.

Key Takeaways

• Why teen emotions feel bigger and harder to manage during adolescence

• How to recognize red flags versus typical teen behaviour

• The power of validation in strengthening parent-teen connection

• Understanding self-harm as a coping strategy, not attention-seeking

• Tools for parents to regulate their own emotions during conflict

• Practical steps to rebuild trust and connection with a withdrawn teen