'You're triggering me': How to understand your therapy-speak teen

'You're triggering me': How to understand your therapy-speak teen

Words most often heard in the therapist's chair have made their way into day-to-day conversation - here's a parents' guide to understanding it.

With claims of gaslighting, triggering and disrespecting boundaries, some parents are struggling to understand their teenagers' so-called therapy speak.

When Carla Hoskins asks her 15 and 18-year-old sons to revise or do chores at their Hertfordshire home, she says she is sometimes met with: "You're triggering me!"

Over in the US, Shannon Salvatoriello says her 14 and 17-year-old sons use similar words, which she says leaves her "feeling very confused".

Mental health experts in the UK and US tell the BBC why young people are using terms often heard during therapy sessions in everyday conversation - and give parents tips on how to better understand their teenagers.

Mum-of-six Carla says she is sometimes accused of gaslighting by her eldest teen sons - particularly when she asks about friends or school work.

"I feel like any time you challenge them or request something is when you come up against this new language," says the 39-year-old.

"Rather than just saying, 'Mum, I'm stressed about my exams' or 'I've got a lot on my plate', it's I'm triggering them." She adds: "You can't really ever get to the bottom of anything."

Carla says she had never heard the words triggering or gaslighting before her sons started using them and assumes they learned them on social media.

In brief

With claims of gaslighting, triggering and disrespecting boundaries, some parents are struggling to understand their teenagers' so-called therapy speak. Mum-of-six Carla says she is sometimes accused of gaslighting by her eldest teen sons - particularly when she asks about friends or school work. Carla says she had never heard the words triggering or gaslighting before her sons started using them and assumes they learned them on social media.

This is the opening of the story, shared with credit to BBC News — Top Stories. The rest of the report — with every detail — continues on the publisher’s website.

Continue reading at BBC News — Top Stories ↗

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