·S5 E204
Loneliness, Friendship and Connection: How to Build Real Friends,
Episode Description
We all want our children to have great friendships, and often questions from parents who say 'My teen has no friends. What should I do?'
I've been left wondering if we are missing one of the most important ways to help them. If we're not good at making and maintaining friends ourselves, who will our babies learn their friendship skills from?
In this episode of Teenagers Untangled, I’m joined by author, broadcaster, and founder of The Friendship Lab, Sheridan Voysey, to unpack why 20–25% of adults now say they have no close friends, how that impacts our teens’ mental health, and what we can actually do about it.
We explore the five stages of friendship, why busyness, smartphones, and constant mobility are eroding our connections, and the simple, intentional steps parents can take to help their tweens and teens build deep, lasting relationships.
Whether your child is struggling to find “their people,” stuck on the surface with classmates, or hiding behind screens, this conversation will give you practical language, science-backed insight, and real-life ideas for modelling healthy friendships at home. If you care about your teen’s confidence, wellbeing, resilience, and sense of belonging, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
I create notes on every episode which you'll find on my Substack page
Please hit the follow button if you like the podcast, and share it with anyone who might benefit.
You can review us on Apple podcasts by going to the show page, scrolling down to the bottom where you can click on a star then you can leave your message.
Please don't hesitate to seek the advice of a specialist if you're not coping. There's no shame in reaching out for support. When you look after yourself your entire family benefits.
Find all the tips from the episdoe on Substack:
My email
My website has a blog, searchable episodes, and ways to contact me
Instagram
Facebook
You can reach Susie at www.amindful-life.co.uk