When “How Was Your Day?” Gets You “Fine.”
You ask.
“How was school?”
“Fine.”
“How are you?”
“I’m okay.”
“Is something wrong?”
“Nothing.”
And sometimes, the more you try to talk, the more they seem to pull away.
The door closes.
The headphones go on.
The answers get shorter.
And you start wondering:
“Why don’t they tell me anything anymore?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“How do I know if they’re actually okay?”
“Should I give them space or keep trying?”
“What if something is happening and they won’t tell me?”
Adolescence can bring significant changes in how young people experience themselves, their relationships, their emotions and their need for independence.
Sometimes silence means “I don’t want to talk.”
Sometimes it means “I don’t know how to explain this.”
Sometimes it means “I’m scared you’ll be angry.”
Sometimes it means “I need space.”
And sometimes, they simply don’t have the words yet.
Raising a Teenager Who Won’t Talk to You is a psychology-informed workshop about understanding communication during adolescence including withdrawal, silence, emotional reactions, independence, conflict and the things teenagers may struggle to express directly.
This isn’t about finding the perfect sentence that will make your teenager tell you everything.
It’s not about controlling their behaviour.
And it’s not about becoming their friend instead of their parent.
It’s about learning how to remain a safe and connected adult while your teenager is becoming their own person.
Is this workshop for you?
This workshop may be helpful if you…
✓ Feel like your teenager doesn’t talk to you the way they used to.
✓ Get mostly one-word answers when you try to start a conversation.
✓ Feel like your teen tells their friends everything but tells you nothing.
✓ Worry that giving them space might mean becoming disconnected.
✓ Find yourself repeatedly asking questions because you want to know what’s going on.
✓ Feel frustrated when your teenager shuts down or walks away during difficult conversations.
✓ Don’t know whether your teen needs advice, comfort, space or simply someone to listen.
✓ Struggle to talk about difficult topics without the conversation becoming an argument.
✓ Feel like your teenager interprets concern as criticism or control.
✓ Find yourself saying things like “You can tell me anything” but still struggle to get them to open up.
✓ Want to understand the difference between normal teenage privacy and signs that something may need more attention.
✓ Feel unsure about how to respond when your teenager becomes angry, distant, defensive or dismissive.
✓ Want to set boundaries while maintaining a sense of connection.
✓ Want to become better at listening without immediately fixing, correcting or advising.
✓ Want to understand your teenager without losing your own role as a parent or caregiver.
Meet Your Facilitators
Akanksha Mehta
Founder, Mind Soul Bridge
Akanksha is a Counselling Psychology postgraduate (M.Sc, Christ University) with 600+ therapy sessions across EAP, private practice and relationship counselling. She works with individuals and couples around anxiety, stress, burnout, trauma and relationship concerns through an evidence-based, trauma-informed, integrative approach and has facilitated 100+ mental-wellbeing workshops in corporate and community settings.
Riddhima Nigam
Founder, Bekhauf Panchi
Riddhima is a Counselling Psychologist and the founder of Bekhauf Panchi by Riddhima. She works with adolescents and adults around emotional overwhelm, stress, self-doubt, relationship concerns, identity and life transitions through a human-centred, trauma-informed and integrative approach. Her work focuses on creating emotionally safe, collaborative spaces that help individuals understand their experiences, reconnect with their strengths and values and develop greater clarity and self-trust. She also works with adolescents around developmental, emotional, academic and social challenges.
What you’ll learn?
Why Teenagers Stop Talking
- Understand why adolescents may become quieter, more private, defensive or selective about what they share with adults.
Privacy, Independence & Connection
- Explore why wanting more privacy is a normal part of growing up and how parents can respect increasing independence without losing emotional connection.
What’s Behind “I’m Fine”?
- Look beyond the words and explore the emotions, experiences, uncertainty or difficulty expressing themselves that may sometimes sit underneath teenage silence.
Listening Without Turning It Into a Lecture
- Learn how the way we respond including questioning, advising, correcting or reacting can influence whether a teenager feels comfortable continuing a conversation.
Staying Connected Through Conflict
- Explore how to maintain connection when conversations become difficult, emotions run high or your teenager doesn’t respond in the way you hoped.
What you’ll take away?
A Teen Communication Check-In
- Reflect on how conversations between you and your teenager typically begin, unfold and sometimes break down.
A “What Might Be Underneath?” Reflection
- Learn to consider what may be happening beneath silence, irritability, withdrawal or short responses without immediately assuming the worst.
Listening vs. Fixing Framework
- Explore the difference between listening to understand and immediately moving into advice, solutions, correction or reassurance.
The Space vs. Disconnection Check
- Think about when giving your teenager space may support independence and when staying gently available matters.
Conversation Openers
- Take away practical ways to begin potentially difficult conversations without making your teenager feel interrogated.
Your Reaction Awareness Tool
- Notice what happens in you when your teenager shuts down, disagrees, becomes angry or doesn’t respond as you’d hoped.
Connection-Before-Correction Reflection
- Explore how emotional connection can influence how boundaries, guidance and difficult conversations are received.
Parent–Teen Pattern Map
- Identify recurring interaction patterns that may lead to questioning, defensiveness, withdrawal, frustration or escalating conflict.
Lifetime Resources
- Resources to support your learning beyond the workshop
What happens during the 90 minutes?
1- Understand: Interactive teaching
- Explore adolescence, changing needs for independence, communication patterns, emotional expression and why teenagers may become harder to reach.
2- Notice: Guided self-reflection
- Reflect on what happens during your conversations with your teenager and how you typically respond when they don’t open up.
3- Decode: Look beneath the behaviour
- Explore possible meanings behind silence, withdrawal, irritability, defensiveness and “I’m fine” without automatically assuming one explanation.
4- Practise: Communication tools
- Try practical ways of listening, opening conversations, responding to difficult emotions and staying available without forcing disclosure.
5- Take It With You: Your connection plan
- Identify small changes you can make to create more opportunities for connection with your teenager.
6- Ask: Live Q&A
- Ask questions during and after the session.
Why this workshop is different?
Because “Just Talk to Your Child” Isn’t That Simple.
This workshop is…
Not About Making Your Teen Tell You Everything
Teenagers are developing their own identities and need increasing privacy. The goal isn’t total access to their inner world.
Not About Being a “Cool Parent”
Connection doesn’t mean removing boundaries or trying to become your teenager’s friend. Parents can remain parents while becoming more emotionally approachable.
Not About Blaming Parents
Parent–teen communication is shaped by many factors. We’ll look at patterns with curiosity rather than assigning blame.
Beyond “Teenagers Are Just Difficult”
Adolescent behaviour can sometimes be frustrating, but understanding what may be happening underneath can create more opportunities for connection.
Psychology-Informed
We’ll explore adolescent development, emotional expression, autonomy, communication, parent–teen interaction patterns and relationships through a counselling psychology lens.
Practical & Reflective
You’ll have opportunities to examine your own communication patterns and leave with approaches you can try in everyday interactions.
Connection Without Losing Boundaries
The workshop doesn’t suggest that parents should say yes to everything. It explores how warmth, listening, boundaries and guidance can coexist.
Frequently asked questions.
Do I need prior therapy experience?
- No. These sessions are for everyone, whether or not you’ve ever spoken to a therapist.
Will I have to share personal experiences?
- Never. Participation in discussion is always optional. You’re welcome to simply listen and participate privately.
Will the session be recorded?
- Yes. Recording will be available for a week after the workshop.
Can I ask questions?
- Yes. There will be a live Q&A, and you can ask questions through the chat.
Will I receive resources afterward?
- Yes. Worksheets and a recommended resource list will be shared on WhatsApp after the session.
Can beginners attend?
- Absolutely. No background in psychology is needed.
Is there an age requirement?
- Yes. This workshop is for Parents and Caregivers of Teenagers (13–19).
How do I get the joining link?
- Your Google Meet link and reminders will be sent to you on WhatsApp after you register.
Important Information
Before you register
- This is a psychoeducational workshop. It is not a substitute for psychotherapy or crisis support.
- Participation in discussion is always optional.
- You do not have to disclose anything personal during the session.
- Please join from a quiet, private space where possible.
- Worksheets and resources will be shared on WhatsApp after the session.
- Refund/cancellation policy:
We understand that plans can change. If you need to cancel your registration, you may request a full refund up to 24 hours before the workshop begins.
For cancellations made less than 24 hours before the workshop, or after the workshop has started, no refund will be provided.
To request a refund, please contact us at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time of the workshop.
If you are in distress or crisis, you can contact:
- Tele-MANAS: 1800-89-14416 | 14416
- iCall (TISS): 9152987821