by Lauren Goodman | Apr 30, 2026 | Christian Counseling
Understanding the Challenges Christian Teens Face Today
Because my Christian faith is such an important part of my life, I often work with teens and families looking for faith-based therapy. Over the years, I’ve seen some consistent challenges Christian teens face today. Today, I want to speak directly to Christian teenagers who are trying to live out their faith in a difficult world.
Common Challenges Christian Teens Face
1. Maintaining Integrity
You are called to live with a high level of integrity. That often means you may not always come in first place. While other students may cheat on tests or homework, you are trying not to live that way. This is one of the biggest challenges Christian teens (and adults) face.
You may give in sometimes. I did several times in high school. But even if you get the grade you wanted, it usually doesn’t feel good. Guilt often follows, and owning your mistake can be even harder.
2. Judgment from Peers
You are also trying to follow the moral and emotional guidance of Christ. Today, some Christian beliefs are not popular in culture. Because of that, you may deal with teasing, judgment, or hurtful comments from peers. While many teens do not face physical persecution, they may still be called names or treated unfairly.
That happened to me in high school too. I was called things like naive, and even names that were completely false and extreme. It hurt deeply because I was trying to live in a loving way toward others.
3. Social Pressure
Another challenge many face is the temptation to behave badly in order to fit in with non-Christian friends. Some friends may party, drink, lie to their parents, or be sexually active. It can be easy to go to youth group on Sunday and still join in with unhealthy choices during the week.
In high school, I had one foot in my faith and one foot in the party scene. I told myself I wasn’t the worst one there. I rarely drank and often chose to be the designated driver. But I was still lying to my parents and putting myself in situations that tempted me. I know many Christian teenagers who feel pulled in two directions the same way. It can be hard to keep friendships if you never join in with what others are doing. That is one reason this road can feel so challenging.
How to Handle the Challenges Christian Teens Face
One of the most important things you can do is stay connected to God daily. Read your Bible regularly, pray, and stay involved in a small group. When you do these things, the desires of your heart are more likely to line up with Christ.
That makes it much easier to follow Him than trying to be a “good kid” through willpower alone. John 15:5 says, “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (NKJV). Without a real connection to Jesus, faith can start to feel like a list of rules instead of a relationship built on love.
Staying Strong
If you are a Christian teenager trying to stay strong, remember this: you are not alone, and your struggle has purpose. Keep walking with God, even when it feels hard. Growth often happens right in the middle of the challenge.
Helping teens grow and families improve connection,
Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT connection,
by Lauren Goodman | Apr 2, 2026 | Christian Counseling
How Morning Routines Can Reduce Anxiety
Living anxiety-free means actively making choices to reduce stress. Incorporating morning routines to reduce anxiety is a powerful way to start. Our lives are fast and intense—we’re always trying to get ahead. We push our kids to earn good grades, involve them in multiple extracurricular activities, work long hours ourselves, and take only short vacations. How we start our day is one of the most overlooked keys to reducing anxiety.
A slower, intentional morning can set the tone for the entire day. Instead of rushing or filling your mind with “to-dos,” focus on what brings calm and clarity.
Avoid Anxiety Triggers First Thing
Many people watch or read the news in the morning. Rarely does a program balance positive events with negative ones. Even good news is often spun in a way that increases worry—keeping you glued to the screen. Remember that most of what you hear on the TV or read on your phone is out of your control. Focus instead on what you can influence and let the rest go.
Instead of looking at your phone or turning on the television, try taking a moment to notice something beautiful outside, or say a simple “thank you” for the blessings in your life. Shifting your focus first thing in the morning helps reset your mind and reduces anxiety before it even begins.
Build a Positive Morning Routine
Start with something uplifting—read your Bible, pray, call a friend, or enjoy your coffee slowly. Even ten mindful minutes in the morning can influence the entire day. Beginning with anxiety makes it much harder to shake off later, so intentionally replace stress with calm.
Help your child to do the same. Make them a good breakfast, sit with them, and keep the conversation light and positive. Avoid discussing classes, tests, or chores during this time. A calm, positive start builds resilience for the day ahead.
The Impact of Morning Routines to Reduce Anxiety
A consistent, intentional morning routine doesn’t just make you feel better—it models healthy habits for your kids. When they see you starting the day calmly, they’re more likely to follow your example. Small, daily rituals can have a huge impact on overall mental health and family well-being.
Helping teens grow and families improve connection,
Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT
by Lauren Goodman | Mar 20, 2026 | Christian Counseling
Why Improving Your Body Image Is So Hard
It’s hard to love yourself sometimes. It’s easy to fixate on one flaw and get stuck there. There’s always something that could be better—but there are also so many things that are already good. Improving your body image doesn’t mean thinking you look perfect. It means learning to see yourself in a more balanced, honest, and kind way.
A Different Way to Think About Your “Flaws”
I’m going to go first. Here are a few things about my body I’ve struggled with: uneven skin tone, dry patches, not-white-enough teeth, and cellulite. As someone in who used to struggle with an eating disorder, I can tell you I’ve spent way too much time focusing on those things.
But instead of only seeing them as problems, I’ve started to ask a different question: what if there are reasons to be grateful for these parts of me?
Improving Your Body Image by Changing Perspective
These “flaws” have actually helped me grow. They keep me humble, they remind me I’m human, and they help me be less judgmental of others. When you have imperfections, it’s easier to appreciate that everyone else does too. It helps you care less about what someone looks like on the outside (including yourself). And honestly, a world without differences wouldn’t even feel human. We’d all look the same, like copies of each other. That’s not what makes people interesting or meaningful.
Improving Your Body Image in a Culture Focused on Perfection
We live in a culture that constantly tells us what we should look like. If it’s not acne, it’s body shape. If it’s not that, it’s skin tone, hair, or something else.
But those standards change all the time. What’s considered “perfect” now won’t be the same in a few years. That’s a good reminder that those standards aren’t truth—they’re just trends.
What God Says About You
My flaws remind me that God’s ways are higher than mine. There’s a Bible verse that I love. It says, “And do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a). It reminds me that what I see as “imperfect” is really just a “pattern of this world.”
When you compare yourself to the standards the world sets up as beautiful, it can feel like every little thing needs to be better. This makes improving your body image practically impossible. But God looks at your heart and your mind. Being a kind and loving person is far more important than having a straight nose. Appearance matters much less than we’re led to believe. Even so, God created each of us beautifully exactly according to His design. So when you’re not feeling good about how you look, remember that God didn’t make a mistake—He made you exactly as He intended.
What Really Matters
If I had been given what the world calls a “perfect” body, I probably wouldn’t have learned to care about what’s inside. But because I’ve had to wrestle with insecurities, I’ve learned to focus on deeper things. Over time, I’ve realized my “flaws” aren’t really flaws at all. They’ve helped shape who I am. They’ve pushed me toward growth and maturity.
You don’t need to look perfect to feel good about yourself. Improving your body image is about learning to see yourself with more grace, more truth, and less pressure. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s peace.
Helping teens grow and families improve connection,
Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT
by Lauren Goodman | Jan 28, 2026 | Christian Counseling
How Faith Helps with Addiction Recovery When Addiction Makes Life Feel Pointless
Does faith really matter when it comes to addiction recovery? In my experience, yes—very much so. While some people do get sober without faith, it’s not very common. Most people who truly heal end up putting their hope in something bigger than themselves, something that gives their life meaning again. Often, that something is God. This is how faith helps with addiction recovery.
When addiction has taken over, life without a high can feel dull, empty, or just not worth it. Getting sober is uncomfortable and often miserable at first. Faith can be what helps someone keep going when everything in them wants to give up.
Why Purpose Is So Important in Recovery
People don’t usually get sober just because they’re told they should. They need a reason. Believing you were created on purpose, and that your life still matters, can be powerful motivation. This is one of the ways faith helps with addiction recovery. It gives hope that life on the other side of addiction is meaningful, even when it isn’t easy.
Addiction is often about chasing good feelings and avoiding pain. Faith shifts the focus away from doing what makes you feel good in the moment and toward purpose. Following God doesn’t promise a pain-free life, but it does offer fulfillment. For many people, that difference changes everything.
How Faith Helps With Addiction Recovery Day to Day
When people talk about getting sober “through faith,” they’re usually talking about value and hope. Faith helps them believe they are more than their addiction and more than their past mistakes. Instead of living for the next high, they start living for something that lasts.
A faith-based recovery can also help people tolerate discomfort. Recovery isn’t comfortable. There are cravings, emotional lows, and hard truths to face. Having faith gives people a reason to sit with that discomfort instead of escaping it.
Faith and the Painful Parts of Change
Breaking free from addiction is exhausting. Detox can be brutal. Letting go of old friends, routines, and coping strategies can feel like losing everything at once. This level of change usually requires a complete shift in how someone sees themselves and the world.
This is likely why programs like Alcoholics Anonymous emphasize turning things over to God, and why so many people find healing in faith-based programs like Celebrate Recovery. These are just a few of many great faith-centered recovery programs. Faith provides something steady to hold onto when life feels chaotic.
Hold Onto Hope
If you or your teenager is stuck in the cycle of addiction, don’t lose hope. Faith doesn’t promise instant happiness, but it does offer meaning, love, and purpose, which is far more rewarding in the end than instant gratification. Many people discover through faith that they still have value and still have something to offer the world—even after addiction.
Helping teens grow and families improve connection,
Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT
by Lauren Goodman | Dec 7, 2025 | Christian Counseling
How to Help a Teen Overcome Trauma
As a therapist who has worked with teens for years, I’ve heard many stories about trauma. Some parents of these teens panic, and others get so overwhelmed they downplay what happened. Both reactions make sense—seeing your child hurt is one of the hardest things a parent can face. It also leaves you wondering what to do. How do you help a teen overcome trauma?
Understanding Trauma in Teens
Trauma affects teens in different ways. Some bounce back quickly, while others struggle for a long time. When a teen goes through something scary, painful, or overwhelming, it can impact how they see themselves and the world.
Faith and Stability Support Healing
One important part of healing is having something steady and unchanging to hold onto. Faith can be a key part of helping teens overcome trauma. For many people, faith gives hope, comfort, and meaning when life feels broken. But this can be complicated. Many trauma survivors feel angry with God or abandoned by Him. They wonder how a good God could let bad things happen. These big questions are important, and it’s helpful to talk them through with a trusted religious leader.
Helping Teens Overcome Trauma by Tackling Shame
Shame is one of the hardest parts of trauma. Shame says, “I am bad,” instead of “Something bad happened to me.” Teens often blame themselves, even when the trauma was completely out of their control. Healing takes time and help—especially when it comes to letting go of shame.
When to Get Professional Support
Every person goes through painful experiences in life, but some events can leave deep wounds that don’t heal on their own. If you’re worried about how your teen is coping, it’s a good idea to get professional help. Sometimes one event can keep hurting someone long after it’s over. If your teen could use additional support, call, and we can discuss next steps for you and your teen.
Helping teens grow and families improve connection,
Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT
by Lauren Goodman | Oct 7, 2025 | Christian Counseling
The Difference Between Guiding and Controlling Parenting Styles
As a parent, one of the most important choices you’ll make is whether to guide your teen or try to control them. The difference between guiding vs controlling parenting makes a huge impact on your child’s confidence, independence, and future. It’s not always easy to see if you’ve overstepped your bounds as a parent. That’s why it’s important to explore the signs of controlling parenting and understand how to help your teen grow in a healthier, positive way.
What Does Controlling Parenting Look Like?
A controlling parent often uses guilt, pressure, or subtle put-downs to influence their child’s choices. They might say things like, “After all I do for you, this is how you repay me?” or criticize their teen’s friends, hobbies, or school choices. Teens in this type of environment may feel like their opinions and decisions don’t matter. Over time, they can become passive, fearful, or rebellious.
I saw this firsthand with my cousin. His mom had the best intentions and loved him deeply, but she controlled nearly every part of his life—from who he spent time with to what college he attended. Growing up, he learned to keep quiet rather than speak his mind. Once he got to college and finally had freedom, he didn’t know how to handle it. He spiraled into partying, drinking, skipping classes, and losing focus. This is a real life example of controlling parenting.
The Root of Controlling Behavior
Most controlling parents act out of fear and anxiety. They love their child deeply and worry that mistakes will ruin their future. Unfortunately, that anxiety drives them to micromanage every choice. While this might feel protective, it robs teens of essential life skills—like recovering from failure, making independent choices, self-motivation, and resilience.
How to Guide and Teach Your Teen Without Taking Over
Guiding vs controlling parenting isn’t about being hands-off. It’s about teaching and walking alongside your teen instead of managing every detail. Remember, your child was entrusted to you for a short season by God’s grace. They will grow into their own person—someone who will face success, failure, love, loss, and everything in between. You can’t control that outcome, but you can guide them with wisdom, patience, and love.
This doesn’t mean you should allow your teen to do whatever they want. They are still young and don’t have the maturity to always make good decisions. Setting healthy rules and boundaries with love is still vital. What guiding really means is letting your teen make choices, experience consequences, and learn from them. It means teaching recovery after failure, encouraging independence, and offering support without manipulation. Think of yourself as a steward—someone entrusted with your teen’s early years.
Final Thoughts on Guiding vs Controlling Parenting
Don’t try to control every aspect of your child’s life to shield them from mistakes or failures. Instead, listen well, offer advice, set limits when needed, and always show love. Guiding vs controlling parenting makes all the difference in raising confident and capable teens.
Helping teens grow and families improve connection,
Lauren Goodman, MS, MFT
