Host: What are the signs that a teen is behaving in a positive and healthy way?

Judith Welles Cousins: The signs that a teenager is behaving in a positive way is number one, that teen has positive group of friends, friends that act in a positive way if they are instructed, that are engaged in activities. Also, you will see a teen spending more time with their family, be more willing to spent time with their family. Teens who are unhappy, who are using, who are angry and sad are not going to spend a lot of time with their family typically. They are going to spend more time by themselves and in their room.

So you see a teenager who is much more open, much more willing to spend time with family, less oppositional, easier to get along with for the most part, being willing to talk with their parents, asking them questions, being willing to listen to what their family members have to say even if they are not agreeing what their family members have to say. Less rage, less anxiety, better engagement in school, showing more success at school or at work, if they are working.

So those are some of the really important ways that you know that your teen is getting better or feeling better about themselves. 1