
Episode #210
210. Relapse Is Imminent, But Your Teen Isn’t Back at Square One
Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults. Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups I hope to see you there! You see old behaviors showing up again and your first thought is, “Oh no. Are we back here again?”. When you’ve worked so hard to support your struggling teen, a relapse, or even the return of an old pattern, can feel terrifying. Believe me, I know. It can bring back anxiety, urgency, and the instinct to jump in, fix things, or make sure everything is okay. But relapse doesn’t mean that all the progress is gone. It doesn’t mean you’re back at square one. In this episode, Seth and I have a deeply honest conversation about relapse, setbacks, and what happens when life gets messy again. I even share a very recent experience in my own family that brought old patterns back to the surface and reminded me that doing the work doesn’t create a life free from difficult emotions, conflict, or uncertainty. Instead, the work gives you something much more valuable: the ability to recognize what’s happening, sit with discomfort, manage your own anxiety, and choose how you want to show up. Because relapse is imminent in the sense that none of us are robots. Old patterns can resurface. Anger can show up again. Avoidance can return. Relationships can become difficult again. And when that happens, it doesn’t mean you’re back at square one. It means you’re human. In this episode on how relapse is imminent, we discuss: Why relapse and setbacks don’t mean that your previous progress has disappeared What happens when old patterns resurface in your family How your anxiety can influence a struggling teen who is already overwhelmed Why sometimes the most supportive thing you can do is give your teen space How shame and embarrassment can cause your teen to isolate The difference between being present for your teen and trying to rescue or fix them Why your problems may not disappear, but your ability to handle them can change How to recognize the difference between facts and the stories your anxious brain is creating What it means to witness your teen without needing them to change or repair immediately Why taking care of yourself is essential when you’re supporting a struggling teen Looking for support? ️Need help setting healthy boundaries with your teen AND following through? My free guide will help you do so by creating your own Parent Home Plan! Learn how to respond in hard moments, without losing your cool, the relationship, or yourself, inside my 6-week Boundaries Masterclass . Influence lasting change in yourself and your struggling teen with my private coaching or parent group program specifically created for parents of struggling teens. Have a question or need support? You can email me at beth@bethhillmancoaching.com You can support the show by: → Leaving a review → Subscribing to the show → Sharing it with another parent! And remember parents, the change begins with us. Small GROUP COACHING program starting October 6th & 7th, 2026 How to Influence Change: Small-group program for parents of struggling teens & young adults. Sign up or learn more over at www.bethhillmancoaching.com/groups I hope to see you there!

