First love can be a powerful and overwhelming experience, especially for teenagers navigating the complex emotions of adolescence alongside their developing sense of identity—and the pressures of an always-connected digital world.
In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino speaks to journalist, professor, author and mom, Lisa A. Phillips. Drawing from her book First Love: Guiding Teens Through Relationships and Heartbreak, Phillips sheds light on the emotional rollercoaster of teen romance and its significant impact on mental health.
This conversation explores how modern technology and social media shape young relationships in new and often challenging ways—and how parents and caregivers can best support teens through these experiences. Topics include: the importance of consent, fostering healthy communication, building emotional resilience, and managing the effects of online drama and digital pressure.
Key insights:
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The intensity and reality of first love, heightened by adolescent brain and hormonal development
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How open, compassionate communication between parents and teens creates a safe space for navigating emotions
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The importance of validating teens’ feelings rather than dismissing their relationships as “just a phase”
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The powerful influence of social media on teen relationships and emotional well-being
LISA A. PHILLIPS
Associate Professor of Journalism, State University of New York
Former Journalist (New York Times, Psychology Today and Cosmopolitan)
Author
Mother of 1
“Adolescence is a time when emotions are powerful… You’re adding powerful feelings of adolescence plus powerful feelings of love and the fact that the adolescent has never experienced this before. All those things combine to make first romantic experiences incredibly powerful and meaningful.”