Supporting Teens with Anxiety w/ Amber & Ollie Lia
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On today’s episode…
When teens are hurting, how do we help them feel seen? In this conversation, Dr. Kelly Cagle speaks with Amber Lia and her 18-year-old son Ollie about anxiety, spiritual battles, and the healing power of faith, family, and emotional support. Drawing from their journey—and their new devotional You Are Seen—they share practical tools, encouragement, and hope for both parents and teens navigating mental health challenges in today’s world.
Show Notes
Helping Teens Through Anxiety: What Parents Need to Know
Practical Wisdom and Spiritual Encouragement from Amber & Ollie Lia
Anxiety among teens is on the rise—and parents are often left wondering how to respond with both compassion and effectiveness. While mental health conversations are becoming more common, knowing what to do when your teen is hurting can still feel overwhelming.
In this blog, we unpack key insights from a powerful conversation between Dr. Kelly Cagle and mother-son duo Amber & Ollie Lia, who co-authored the devotional You Are Seen: 90 Devotions to Encourage Stressed and Anxious Teens. Their story offers not only hope, but actionable guidance for navigating emotional struggles with truth, faith, and grace.
Why Teens Are Struggling with Anxiety Today
Many teens today are facing emotional overload due to:
Constant digital stimulation (especially social media comparison)
Academic pressure and performance expectations
Major life transitions, such as moving, changing schools, or parental divorce
Isolation from meaningful, in-person relationships
Spiritual disconnection or lack of purpose
As Ollie Lia shared from his own experience, simply entering a new high school where everyone else already had long-established friendships triggered intense stress and loneliness.
What Parents Can Do: Support Without Shame
Amber Lia offered a profound reminder: Your child’s anxiety is not a reflection of your failure as a parent. Instead, it’s an opportunity to walk alongside your teen in empathy, prayer, and presence. Here are a few ways she recommends engaging:
1. Don't Take it Personally
Your teen’s resistance, withdrawal, or silence isn't necessarily about you. Learn to separate their emotional distress from your identity as a parent.
2. Fight the Right Battle
Remember: We do not wrestle against flesh and blood. When your child is hurting, your greatest weapon is spiritual. Pray over their rooms, play worship music, and declare truth out loud—even when they can't.
3. Model Regulation
Instead of reacting in fear or frustration, model emotional regulation. Speak gently, offer physical reassurance (like holding their hands), and remain calm.
Tools for Teens: Strategies That Help
Ollie shared several practical tools that helped him manage anxiety day-to-day:
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Method
Use the five senses to bring a teen back into the present moment during an anxiety spiral:
5 things you can see
4 things you can feel
3 things you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
Amber would walk Ollie through these steps, often in moments of panic, to help him regulate and regain a sense of control.
Structured Planning
Ollie also developed the habit of mapping out his daily schedule in his notes app. He’d include time for self-care, study, gym, and breaks. This helped reduce overwhelm and gave him a roadmap for the day.
Scripture & Prayer
Simple, heartfelt prayers grounded in Scripture were key. Amber would often text verses to Ollie, helping him reframe lies with truth—especially before exams or stressful events.
Encouragement for Parents and Teens
To Parents: You are the right parent for your child. You don’t need all the answers—you need faith, patience, and a willingness to stand in the gap spiritually. Pursue your child gently, pray even when they resist, and never lose hope.
To Teens: You are seen, known, and loved—even when it doesn’t feel like it. You don’t have to fight alone. There are people who care, and a God who created you with purpose and intention.
A Devotional Resource That Bridges the Gap
You Are Seen is a unique 90-day devotional written by a teen (Ollie) and his mom (Amber), offering day-by-day encouragement, prayer, and truth for anxious teens. It also includes tools from licensed counselors and Scripture-based affirmations for both teens and parents.
Whether your child has already begun expressing anxiety or you're simply preparing to support them better, this devotional can serve as a conversation starter, spiritual lifeline, and comforting guide.
About Amber Lia
Amber Lia is a bestselling author, speaker, and parenting coach who equips families with faith-based strategies for cultivating peace in the home. With a background in education and a passion for helping parents navigate emotional and behavioral challenges, Amber shares practical tools and biblical encouragement rooted in her own journey as a mom of four boys. She’s the author of several books on parenting and anger triggers, and her latest project is a powerful devotional titled You Are Seen, co-authored with her teenage son Ollie. Together, they bring a unique mother-son perspective to mental health, anxiety, and spiritual growth in today’s fast-paced world.
Struggling with screen time and safe tech? Dr. Kelly is proud to partner with Gabb Wireless—the phone that protects childhood. It's a perfect complement to fostering focused, grounded kids in a distracted world.
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