Does Your Teen Need Counseling?

Does Your Teen Need Counseling?

Author: Mark Gregston May 18, 2026 Duration: 28:06

What if counseling could become one of the greatest gifts you give your teen? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur discuss why counseling isn’t just for teens in crisis. Sometimes, a trusted voice outside the family can help teens process pain, understand their behavior and find hope in ways parents alone cannot. You’ll also hear Jack’s story of healing, vulnerability and restored family relationships. Because when struggles stay hidden, they often get acted out — but healing begins when someone finally feels heard.

Find out 10 characteristics of a teen who needs intervention at bit.ly/intervention-before-its-too-late

Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.


Raising a teenager can feel like navigating uncharted territory every single day. Parenting Today's Teens is here to walk that path with you, offering a steady voice amid the chaos. Mark Gregston brings more than four decades of direct experience working with families to each conversation, translating complex adolescent behaviors into understandable insights. You’ll hear honest discussions about defiance, screen time, emotional withdrawal, and the search for identity, all framed with a perspective that is both pragmatic and hopeful. This isn’t about quick fixes or perfect formulas; it’s about building a lasting, authentic connection with your teen even when it’s difficult. Mark’s approach is grounded in real-world application, offering strategies you can consider and adapt the very same day. The podcast draws from a well of wisdom that respects the spiritual and personal growth of the entire family, recognizing that parenting a teen often means revisiting your own beliefs and reactions. Tune in for a resource that feels like a thoughtful conversation with a trusted guide, one that acknowledges the struggles while consistently pointing toward practical solutions and renewed understanding for the modern parent.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Parenting Today's Teens
Podcast Episodes
Navigating Teen Romance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Are You Passing on Bad Habits to Your Teens? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:57
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Balancing Boundaries and Building Trust [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:51
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Duration: 26:09
In this episode, Heartlight counselor Courtney Lafleur joins Mark and Wayne to tackle the issue of "mean girl" culture and the impact of social media on teenage girls. They discuss how bullying, exclusion, gossip and unr…
Helping Teens Process Pain and Heal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:55
In this episode, Mark shares a personal devotional about the impact of loss on teens and families. Drawing from personal stories and experiences at Heartlight, Mark explains how loss shapes behavior and emotional respons…
Teen Stories: What's Left Unsaid [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:02
Even the most loving families can struggle to truly hear one another. In today’s episode, Mark sits down with two Heartlight teens who share their experiences with communication breakdowns at home. For Tucker, clashing w…
How to Share Spiritual Values with Today’s Teens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
In this episode, Mark and Wayne explore the challenges and opportunities parents face in sharing their faith with teenagers in a rapidly changing world. Drawing from real-life experiences and expert research, they discus…