28 Mar
Anxiety, Confidence, Counselling, Emotions, For Parents, parenting teens

Looking Beyond Self Doubt

Looking Beyond Self-Doubt: Helping Your Teen Find Her Brave

Watching your teenage daughter struggle with anxiety can be crushing. You want to protect her, to help her skip all the things that make her feel terrible and anxious. The secret is true confidence isn’t built by avoiding fear- it grows when she faces it, little by little. Whether it’s speaking up in class, making a new friend, or trying something new, every small step outside her comfort zone teaches her that she can handle discomfort—and that’s where real resilience begins to start looking beyond self doubt, helping your teen find her brave!

This process, called exposure, helps rewire the brain. The more she leans into challenges instead of avoiding them, the more she tips the scale of confidence in her favour, giving less power to anxiety. It won’t be easy at first, but the reward is worth it: self-trust, confidence, and the belief that she is stronger than her fears. That’s exactly what we do in THP (The Happiness Path)—helping teen girls take those steps in a supportive environment, surrounded by others doing the same.


>>> FREE DOWNLOAD: Depression & Anxiety Toolkit for Parents Raising Teen Girls <<<

If your daughter struggles with self-doubt or fear, THP can help her find her brave, one step at a time. She doesn’t have to do it alone, and neither do you. Resilience isn’t about never feeling anxious—it’s about learning she has the power to move through it. And when she does? That’s when she realizes she’s capable of more than she ever imagined.

Chantal Côté
Registered Psychologist & Teen Life Coach
Founder of Pyramid Psychology and The Happiness Path

28 Mar
Anxiety, Confidence, Counselling, Emotions, For Parents, For Teens, parenting teens, Relationships, Uncategorized

How to Help Your Teen Become Brave

How to Help Your Teen Become Brave

Did you know your teen daughter is likely having thoughts that they might fail at the important things in life?—whether it’s school, friendships, or future plans. The pressure to succeed and meet expectations can leave them so stressed, anxious, and stuck in self-doubt. While your instinct might be to encourage them to push through or think about it as a necessary part of getting to the next part of their journey, a powerful yet often overlooked tool is learning to pause and be present in the moment- this can help your teen become brave.

The Happiness Path: Teen Coaching to Build Resiliency Against Anxiety & Social Awkwardness  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS <<<

 

Your Teen Can Become Resilient

Imagine guiding teen girls to tune into their thoughts, emotions, and surroundings, helping them break free from the cycle of replaying past events or constantly stressing over the future. When they practice mindfulness and self-awareness, they gain clarity and confidence. Instead of being consumed by “what ifs” and worst-case scenarios, they can find space between the moment and their response. This grows their power to face challenges with a sense of “I can handle this” and focus. This shift not only eases their anxiety but also empowers them to make choices that align with what matters most to them, rather than just doing what they think they should do.

In our 6-week group program, The Happiness Path (THP), we dedicate week 2 to helping teenagers experience being present and practice in real-time with creative and fun exercises. By strengthening their ability to be present, your daughter can navigate life’s pressures with resilience and intention. They learn that failure isn’t something to fear—it’s part of growth. And more importantly, they begin to see that success isn’t just about meeting expectations but about building a future that feels meaningful and fulfilling to them. And that is how we can help your teen become brave!

Chantal Côté
Registered Psychologist & Teen Life Coach
Founder of Pyramid Psychology and The Happiness Path

28 Mar
Anxiety, Confidence, Counselling, Emotions, For Parents, parenting teens, Uncategorized

Why Your Teen Feels Unmotivated

Why Your Teen Feels Unmotivated

As a kid, Emma was full of energy, excited about soccer practice and hanging out with friends. But lately, she’s been dragging herself through the day—tired, unmotivated, and irritated with her parents over little things. She doesn’t want to, but she feels like she can’t help it.  “She’s just on her phone too much and it’s making her lazy,” her mom thought at first. But then she noticed something: Emma wasn’t sleeping well, she was constantly retreating to her bedroom, and overwhelmed by many tasks. It wasn’t laziness at all—Emma’s “battery” was running low.
>> FREE DOWNLOAD: Mental Health Handbook for Teen Girls <<<

And What a Cell Phone Can Teach Us

Think of your teen like a cell phone. For example, when too many apps are open (stress piling up), storage is almost full (mental overload), or the battery is low (lack of rest and recharge), things start to glitch- this is why your teen feels unmotivated. Likewise, just like a phone, teens function best in the right conditions—time to recharge, space to process emotions, and moments to be present without distractions. While they can’t always control life’s demands, they can make choices that support their well-being, like setting boundaries, taking mindful breaks, and being intentional about self-care.

In The Happiness Path (THP) group for teen girls, we help teen girls recognize what drains their energy and learn how to “charge” in a way that works for them. Through fun, creative exercises, they practice tuning into their needs, understanding their emotions, and creating habits that help them show up as their best selves. Motivation isn’t about pushing harder—it’s about learning to operate in a way that allows them to thrive. Because when they take care of themselves, just like a well-charged phone, they can function at their best.

Chantal Côté
Registered Psychologist & Teen Life Coach
Founder of Pyramid Psychology and The Happiness Path

28 Mar
Anxiety, Confidence, Counselling, Emotions, For Parents, For Teens, parenting teens, Self Image & Body Image, Self-Compassion, Uncategorized

Eliminate Negative Self Talk

How Teens Can Eliminate Negative Self Talk

Why Your Thoughts Aren’t Always True…

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “People don’t like me,” or “I’m not good enough for my friends”? You’re not alone. Many teen girls struggle with these thoughts, especially when dealing with feelings of anxiety, social pressure, or self-doubt. But here’s the truth—just because you think something doesn’t make it real. What do you see? 

Your brain sees things in a certain way and it can sometimes get stuck in thinking patterns that are harsh. Those thoughts aren’t facts. They’re just stories and patterned thoughts your mind tells you based on fear or past experiences.

>>> FREE DOWNLOAD: Mental Health Handbook for Teen Girls <<<

The good news? You can change the story to eliminate negative self talk. When negative thoughts pop up, try asking yourself: Is this 100% true? Would I say this to a friend? What’s a more realistic way to see this? Shifting your self-talk takes practice, but it’s possible. That’s one thing we we focus on in THP (The Happiness Path)—helping teen girls challenge self-doubt, build confidence, and create strong, supportive friendships. You don’t have to figure it out alone. If you’re ready to start believing in yourself and seeing your worth, you’re in the right place.

Chantal Côté
Registered Psychologist & Teen Life Coach
Founder of Pyramid Psychology and The Happiness Path

11 Feb
Emotions, For Parents, parenting teens

Helping Your Teen Build Friendships

Helping Your Teen Build Healthy Friendships: The Power of Perspective-Taking

Parenting a teen girl is like navigating a constantly shifting landscape. One of the most valuable skills they can develop during this time is perspective-taking. The ability to see the larger picture beyond their experience.  Being that a teen’s nature is to be egocentric (focused on themselves) your support as a parent to model and ask curious questions goes a long way in helping your teen build friendships.

At this age, friendships and social interactions take center stage in their minds. So when challenges arise—whether it’s a difficult friendship, a social letdown, or a situation where you clearly see the red flags—it’s natural to want to protect them by pointing out the negatives. However, jumping into this often creates backfire. Moreover, your teen daughter might be even more sunk into the drama and the toxic friendship. Shifting the conversation to get curious about what qualities bring happiness and fulfillment can be a powerful tool. Also, it can work towards helping your teen build friendships.

How to Raise Unbreakable Teen Girls: A guide for parents wanting to raise confident, resilient young women in today’s world. CLICK HERE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD <<<

helping your teens build healthy friendships

The Power of Perspective to Help Your Teen Build Friendships

For example, highlighting why a particular friendship may not be serving them might not be beneficial. Instead, you can try inviting your teen into a different kind of reflection:

“Which friends bring you the most joy? Who do you feel good around most of the time?”

This subtle shift encourages them to observe their own emotional responses.  Therefore, it doesn’t focus on perceived external judgment about their friend choices. This also starts to fine tune their listening to their own internal guide for healthy relationships. So it’s no longer about saying, “This friend is bad for you” but rather, “You get to decide what makes a friendship fulfilling.”

Imagine your teen beginning to think:

“Friend A and B are both in my life. However, I feel positive emotions 90% of the time with Friend A, while with Friend B it’s only about 10% of the time. The 10% of frustrating moments with Friend A aren’t a dealbreaker because there’s a lot of good brought into my life. Moreover, if I only feel positive feelings around Friend B a small fraction of the time, maybe that’s not enough to outweigh the negativity.”

This kind of self-driven reflection leads to natural boundary-setting, rather than a parent-imposed rule of who to hang out with.

How to Raise Unbreakable Teen Girls: A guide for parents wanting to raise confident, resilient young women in today’s world. CLICK HERE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD <<<

Building the Muscle of Perspective-Taking

Being there for her in tough moments is invaluable so this is not about trying to see the bright side all the time or looking through rosy coloured glasses. This is about validating and being supporting WHILE helping broaden their lens to empower their growing perspective taking skills. 

Helping your teen daughter develop this mindset requires gentle, consistent practice. In addition, here are a few simple ways to reinforce perspective-taking in daily conversations:

Ask Curious Open-Ended Questions
Instead of focusing on the difficult aspects of relationships most of the time, encourage curiosity:

  • “What was the best part of your day today?”
  • “Who made you laugh the most?”
  • “What’s one moment you really appreciated?How to Raise Unbreakable Teen Girls: A guide for parents wanting to raise confident, resilient young women in today’s world. CLICK HERE FOR FREE DOWNLOAD <<<

helping your teen build healthy friendships

Shift the Narrative from Problems to Patterns

  • If they’re venting about a friendship, you can validate their feelings while guiding them toward a bigger picture:
    • “I can see why that was frustrating. Do you notice this happens a lot in this friendship, or was today just a tough moment?”
    • “Who in your life makes you feel the opposite of this?”

Encourage Reflection, Not Immediate Action

  • Teens don’t always need to act on an issue right away. Sometimes, a simmer to notice the pattern first is the next helpful step. A simple check-in like, “Let’s pay attention to what you notice and how it feels over the next couple of weeks,” can help them process things at their own pace, which can go a long way in helping your teen build friendships.

helping your teen build healthy friendships

Why Perspective-Taking Matters

Developing this skill is about more than just friendships. It’s about emotional regulation, resilience, and self-awareness—all key tools for navigating life’s challenges. The ability to step back and make intentional choices will serve your teen in school, relationships, and eventually, in adulthood.

And the best part? You don’t have to have all the answers.


Just by modeling this approach, validating their experiences, and redirecting the focus toward the relationships and experiences that bring them joy, you’re helping them develop the internal compass they’ll use for years to come.

What’s one small way you could practice perspective-taking today to work towards helping your teen build friendships? We’d love to hear what’s been working for you.

Further Reading

If you liked this blog, be sure to check out our other blogs about communicating with teens such as this one: The Power of Language to Communicate with Teens • Pyramid Psychology

About Chantal

helping your teen build healthy friendships

Hi! My name is Chantal.

I am a registered psychologist and teen coach working with teen girls around the globe (and their parents) to help them build Unbreakable Mindsets.

I was born in Ontario and raised in Alberta. As a result of my family encouraging us to speak French growing up (I didn’t always love it as a teen though!), I am bilingual. I love being close to the mountains and am in awe every time I see the beautiful landscapes. For now my RV is home and I offer virtual sessions.

 

Confidence in Teen Girls, Raising Confident Teen Girls: How to Support Their Journey to Self-Worth
12 Jan
Anxiety, Confidence, Emotions, For Parents, Friendships, parenting teens, Relationships, Self-Compassion, Teen Joy

Raising Confident Teen Girls: How to Support Their Journey to Self-Worth

As a parent, few experiences are as heart-wrenching as seeing your teen daughter struggle to recognize the amazing qualities that shine so clearly to you. You see her brightness, kindness, and potential, but it can feel like an uphill battle as she grapples with self-doubt or emotional challenges. The more you focus on raising a confident teen girl and supporting her journey to self-worth, the easier navigating friendships, school, and life becomes—but teens (and all of us really!) require guidance to truly take root.

If your daughter is stuck in toxic friendships, constantly overthinking, or feeling paralyzed by the fear of disappointing others, know that these struggles are common. Thankfully, there are ways you can help her uncover her inner strength and build self-worth. Here’s how:

Cultivate Confidence by Acknowledging Her Challenges with Empathy

Many teen girls feel immense pressure to excel academically, socially, and personally. That pressure turns inward, leading to negative self-talk or, in some cases, harmful behaviors like self-harm when they feel overwhelmed. Your teen is likely struggling to know what to do with some of these feelings and unsure how to show herself some understanding and care. Creating a safe, judgment-free space allows her to open up and feel validated, a foundational step in cultivating confidence for teen girls.

>>> FREE DOWNLOAD: Depression & Anxiety Toolkit for Parents Raising Teen Girls <<<

Foster Positive Relationships

Friendships are central to a teen girl’s world, yet not all relationships are created equal. Toxic friendships can zap her confidence leaving her feeling isolated or anxious. Help her start to distinguish between supportive and harmful relationships by discussing what mutual respect, trust, and encouragement look like. Use real-life examples or share shows/movies that you think illustrate some of these qualities. Understanding the importance of boundaries and how to set them is a powerful skills to help her step away from unhealthy connections. Instead, building supportive friendships to significantly boost your teen’s confidence.

Have a look at our Blog on 3 Questions for Parents to Ask About Teen Boundaries.

two teen girls talking teen friendships

Photo by Andrea Tummons on Unsplash

Guide Her to Focus on the Present

Teens often get caught in a whirlwind of future-focused worries, whether it’s about upcoming tests, college, or social expectations. These anxieties can overshadow the experiences of the moment. Being future-focused all the time is also disorienting resulting in exhaustion and lack of motivation. Whenever you can introduce a present moment invitation, it’s an investment in her well-being. These can be simple like- when you’re cooking something, calling her over “come smell this”,  as your driving in the car together “look at mountains today”, introduce a new song to her “listen to this, I’m curious what you think”, or even asking the question “did you notice….?” can encourage more presence. Encouraging her to celebrate small victories or journal daily gratitudes can also help her reconnect with the present. Learning to anchor herself in the moment is essential for confidence-building.

Model Kindness Toward Yourself to Build Confidence From Within

Your daughter is constantly learning from how you navigate your own challenges. This is no easy task and it’s an ongoing journey. If she sees you celebrating wins, making self-care a priority, and respecting yourself, she will likely replicate those behaviors. Don’t forget to model a little self-compassion in there by showing grace for your mistakes, prioritizing your mental health, and setting boundaries. Explain that treating yourself with kindness is essential—not optional—and it’s a practice that builds confidence from within.

Equip Her with Confidence Coping Tools

I see parents get really good as problem solving. They have tons of ideas and solutions ready to fire off when their teen comes to them. But rather than solving problems for her, you will have a far more positive impact if you empower her to handle challenges independently. Teach practical skills like assertive communication, emotional regulation, and problem-solving. You might ask her “what’s one small step you could take to address this?”, “what’s your gut telling you?”, “what have you tried?”, “what do you think will happen if you try A?”-  More questions to develop problem solving questions here. Helping her find her own solutions builds both confidence and resilience, paving the way for long-term emotional strength.

>>> FREE DOWNLOAD: Depression & Anxiety Toolkit for Parents Raising Teen Girls <<<

teen confidence, parent communicating with teen, support, showing how to problem solve independently

Photo by sofatutor on Unsplash

Encourage External Support When Needed

Raising confident teen girls, while supporting their journey to self-worth sometimes requires us to seek guidance outside the family. Whether it’s a trusted mentor, school counsellor, professional coach, or mental health therapist, having a neutral third party to turn to can make a profound difference. Reassure her that seeking support is a sign of strength and courage, not weakness.

Discover THP: Helping Teen Girls Confidence Thrive

If your daughter is navigating self-doubt, struggling with friendships, or feeling overwhelmed by life’s demands, the Teen Happiness Pill (THP) program can provide the support she needs. THP is a transformative 6-week program for teen girls (ages 12-18) designed to help them move beyond anxiety and overwhelm into a space of confidence and empowerment. Through engaging activities and community support, THP helps participants:

  • Cultivate resilience and self-worth.
  • Build positive, healthy friendships.
  • Manage stress effectively and reduce overthinking.
  • Develop self-compassion and a growth mindset.

This program is available both in-person in YYC and online worldwide, ensuring flexibility and accessibility. With small group sizes, teens receive personalized attention while connecting with peers who understand their struggles. Each week, the program incorporates a unique wellness theme, including a fitness component that helps boost both physical and mental strength.

As a parent, you want to give your daughter every opportunity to thrive. By supporting her participation in THP, you can help her unlock her potential and gain the confidence to navigate life’s challenges with courage and grace.

Learn more about THP and enroll your teen today. Together, let’s help her discover the incredible qualities you’ve always known she possesses.

Resilient teen girls, teen wellness, overcoming anxiety, teen group for anxiety, raising confidence and self-esteem, the happiness pill confidence group

Photo by Canva Pro

                                  

 

 

 

 

About Me

Psychologist Teen Life Coach

Chantal Côté, Registered Psychologist & Teen Life Coach

Hi! My name is Chantal.

I am a registered psychologist and teen coach working with teen girls around the globe (and their parents) to help them build Unbreakable Mindsets.

I was born in Ontario and raised in Alberta. As a result of my family encouraging us to speak French growing up (I didn’t always love it as a teen though!), I am bilingual. I love being close to the mountains and am in awe every time I see the beautiful landscapes. One day I might trade my winter jacket in for a bathing suit and a pair of flip flops, but for now Calgary is home.

I look at mental wellness as part of a Whole System. “After food comes mood” and “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with” are sayings that make a lot of sense to me. Therefore, when I work with teens, I collaborate with them to get a clear picture of how their lifestyle, experiences, and biological makeup influence how they feel every day. I also believe it is so important to mine for their strengths and resources. Bringing those to life for teen girls, results in them becoming their most resilient and confident selves.

I help teen girls who are struggling with their confidence, are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or shut down a lot of the time, and want things to be different. Most certainly the struggle is affecting their self-image, their relationships, and so importantly their mental wellness.

Over the years, I have given myself permission to explore my creative side. I’m also drawn to physical fitness and sport and feel so at home in nature. I work really well with teens who have some creative connections (whether that’s drawing, painting, writing, acting, fashion, playing and making music, etc.). I also get the world of sport and connect well with teens who have an athletic side.

This Article: “Raising Confident Teen Girls: How to Support Their Journey to Self-Worth” was written by: CHANTAL | Pyramid Psychology