Eps 558: Neuroscience of adolescent behavior with Patrick Ney

Eps 558: Neuroscience of adolescent behavior with Patrick Ney

Author: Casey O'Roarty March 24, 2025 Duration: 53:17
My guest today is Patrick Ney, here to explain the neuroscience behind some adolescent behaviors. Patrick shares about self-determination theory and our 3 universal psychological needs. We dig into the personal growth and rewriting the narratives we’ve told ourselves about the way we were parented.  Lastly, Patrick shares actionable steps & advice for helpful communication with your unregulated teen.  Takeaways from the show Wanting to parent differently than you were parented  Self-determination theory  3 psychological needs: relatedness, competence, & autonomy  People feel better & work better with others when those needs are met; we see more negative behavior when those needs are not met   Parenting is an invitation for personal growth  “There’s no getting around teen brain development”  Neuroscience of the teen brain The more you understand the connection between teen behavior, their needs, and brain development, the easier it becomes to stay grounded & helpful - most parents don’t know a lot of neuroscience, but it helps!   Teens are hypersensitive to the opinions of other teens You are the world’s best expert on your child  Getting curious instead of cutting off behavior immediately  Having a narrative understanding of who you are and where you came from can help you know where you’re going as a caregiver  Reflecting on your own behavior & actions as a teenager  “A teenage brain has higher highs and lower lows “ Steps for staying helpful & communicative with unregulated adolescents  For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Parenting adolescents often feels like navigating a landscape without a reliable map, where the old rules no longer apply and connection can feel just out of reach. Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens, hosted by Casey O'Roarty, meets you right in that uncertainty. This podcast operates from a simple, powerful belief: the challenges of raising tweens and teens, while deeply personal, are also a shared human experience. Instead of offering quick fixes, conversations here focus on the foundational work of building and repairing relationships, fostering essential life skills in our kids, and perhaps most importantly, doing the internal work required of us as parents. You’ll hear honest discussions that blend practical strategies with compassionate insight, all aimed at transforming this demanding season from a battle of wills into an opportunity for mutual growth. Tuning into this podcast feels like gaining a thoughtful, experienced friend who reminds you that courage isn't about being fearless, but about finding joy and resilience within the beautiful mess of family life. It’s a resource for anyone who wants to move beyond reaction and toward a more intentional, connected approach with the young adults in their home.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens
Podcast Episodes
Eps 571: Power, Revenge, and Parenting Clarity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:57
In this week's episode, I dive into the mistaken goals of power and revenge, exploring how kids' behaviors often reflect deeper beliefs about belonging, safety, and significance. I share raw personal stories about my own…
Eps 569: Revisiting 2 Assumptions That Support Parenting Teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:33
In today’s solo show, I’m inviting you to rethink your assumptions about your teen’s behavior. When we believe our kids are doing the best they can — and realize only they can solve their own problems — everything shifts…
Eps 567: Revisiting Mental Spring Cleaning with Dr. Aprile Andelle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:09
It's time to revisit mental spring cleaning! If you're a parent feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from your teen, or caught in the trap of perfectionism, you need to listen to this powerful podcast. We dive into the real…
Eps 566: Positive Discipline for Teens Part Two – The mindset shift [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:12
I hope you’ll tune in this week as I highlight chapters 4, 5, and 6 of Positive Discipline for Teens by Jane Nelsen and Lynn Lott. These chapters dig into powerful mindset shifts around mistakes, motivation, and communic…
Eps 565: Parenting Teens with the End in Mind [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:33
In this episode, we explore long-term parenting goals and how to parent teens with clarity, compassion, and confidence. Instead of getting stuck in daily power struggles, we’ll zoom out and focus on raising emotionally h…
Eps 563: Active Acceptance vs resistance while parenting teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:16
So much is calling for acceptance right now — in our lives and in parenting — and it can feel really hard. In this episode, I explore the difference between resistance, passive acceptance, and active acceptance — the pow…
Eps 562: Adolescence on Netflix and raising good men [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:03
As parents, we must stay engaged in our teens' world—especially when it comes to online influences. In this episode, I dive into the powerful Netflix series Adolescence, exploring themes of teen isolation, cyberbullying,…