How to Stop Fighting Your Teenager and Start Understanding Them | Audrey Fairchild | The Elisha Show

Audrey Fairchild is a licensed marriage and family therapist, clinical counseling professional, and middle school teacher with nearly 30 years of teaching experience. Her passion for helping young people began in childhood, inspired by a teacher whose simple act of kindness made her feel seen, valued, and confident. Today, she brings that same desire to make a difference into her work with adolescents and families.

In this conversation, Audrey explores why parenting teenagers can be challenging and how parents can build healthier relationships with their children. She discusses the importance of meaningful stories in shaping young people's identities, why trying to control teenagers can increase conflict, and how parents can approach disagreements with curiosity instead of immediately trying to prove they are right. She also shares practical advice on managing parental anger, recognizing the hurt beneath it, and taking time to regain emotional balance before responding.

In this episode:

✅ Why adolescence is such a challenging transition and why young people need meaningful stories that build identity and belonging.

✅ How parents can reduce conflict by listening to their teenagers' perspectives instead of approaching every disagreement as a battle to win.

✅ Why trying too hard to control teenagers can encourage rebellion and damage communication.

✅ What often lies beneath parental anger and how taking a pause can prevent hurtful reactions.

✅ How parents can use their experience, wisdom, and emotional maturity to create a safer environment for their children.

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