Homing Instinct

When your teen is shrugging you off, being avoidant, withdrawn, or doing something that just feels confusing or frustrating — chances are, it’s a defense mechanism.

It’s not meant to hurt you, or to be careless, defiant, or disrespectful. It’s their mind’s way of trying to stay safe — to avoid pain, shame, or vulnerability that feels like too much to handle in that moment.

When you can see your teen’s defenses for what they are — signs of distress, not disrespect, protection not opposition — you can respond with curiosity instead of control.

🤍

Nothing can rupture trust or shake a relationship quite like a lie. And yet, it happens all the between teenagers and the adults who care for them.

Because the word “lying” carries so much moral weight, we sometimes miss what’s really going on underneath, especially when it’s chronic or compulsive.

The truth is, teenagers lie to protect themselves, to maintain privacy, to avoid shame or punishment, to feel some sense of control, to create a world/reality that feels bearable, to feel better about themselves…

And no, this doesn’t make lying okay. But it does point us toward a new direction: creating the safety where the truth can finally be told 💛

When I was in treatment, I dreamt of going home! Oh, how I couldn’t wait to be back - eat dinner with my family, drive the car, see my friends, go to my favorite sandwich spot, sleep in my own bed…

But no one really prepares you for how hard it can be— Returning to the fast pace of life.
The old triggers. The way no one quite understands where you’ve been—or who you’ve become.

We created the Post-Treatment Support Group because coming home is a different kind of challenge. And you don’t have to navigate it alone 💛

Our next 6-week group is for teen girls who’ve been in treatment (wilderness, residential, inpatient, TBS, etc.) and starts May 27th.
It’s a space to reconnect, reflect, and move forward together.

✨ Come as you are
💬 Share your story
🤝 Connect with others who get it
🌱 Keep growing

Link in bio for all the details and sign-up! Feel free to message with any questions 💗