In this episode of Root & Reach, we’re peeling back the layers of a tricky (but totally normal) stage of adolescence called counterwill—that instinctive “you can’t make me!” response that leaves so many parents feeling stuck in power struggles.
Spoiler alert: more force isn’t the answer. More connection is.
You’ll hear:
🧠 Why counterwill is a healthy part of teen development (even though it drives us bonkers)
🛑 Why pushing harder increases resistance—and what to do instead
✨ How small shifts in language and presence can dramatically lower your teen’s defenses
You’ll also learn how stepping into your teen’s world—even for a moment—can flip the dynamic from combative to collaborative. Yes, even when they’re sprawled on the couch with a video game and ignoring the dishwasher.
Whether your teen is loudly slamming doors or quietly pulling away, this episode offers real tools (and a little humor) to help you reconnect—and help them grow through this stage, not get stuck in it.
🎧 Listen now and try this: What’s one moment today where you could activate connection before you correct?
🪴 Want a cheat sheet of phrases that reduce resistance and invite cooperation? Become a paid subscriber, and I’ll send it your way!
And as always, visit radzatconsulting.com for more support and resources on raising teens with connection, clarity, and a little comedy.
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