Boosting Teen Social Confidence: A Guide for Parents

Do you ever notice your teen having difficulty in social situations, or that they feel overwhelmed when interacting with others? Maybe they shut down when talking to family members, or they avoid hanging out with friends even when invited. Teens can struggle with confidence in social situations for any number of reasons, from mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression to general feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem. If you’re worried about your teen’s social confidence, you can help by assessing their feelings.

Learn more about what to do when your teen exhibits low self-confidence here:

Understanding Social Confidence

Social confidence is the ability to feel comfortable interacting with others in a variety of social situations. This can look like being able to talk to family members or peers, freely express opinions and feelings, join in conversations without feeling self-conscious, and navigate complex social dynamics. When teens lack this confidence, it can significantly impact their ability to participate fully in life and form meaningful relationships with others.

Confident teens are able to take risks, try new activities, and look at setbacks as growth opportunities. This can help to develop self-worth and give teens a sense of purpose.

Anxiety is one of the most common underlying factors affecting socialization. Teens who struggle with anxiety may feel overwhelmed in social situations, making it difficult to focus on conversation or engage with others for fear of saying the wrong thing or being judged. Anxiety can also lead to a sense of avoidance, with teens avoiding social situations altogether out of fear or discomfort.

Signs Your Teen Is Struggling

It’s normal for teens to feel anxious in social situations, but if your teen’s anxiety is excessive or persistent, it might be a sign that they’re struggling with their social confidence. Other signs to look for include:

• Avoids social situations
• Physically slumps or shrinks in public
• Has difficulty engaging in conversations
• Is overly self-critical or has low self-esteem
• Is overly concerned with how they are perceived by others
• Feels overwhelmed and easily embarrassed in social settings

The best thing you can do to help your teen if they’re exhibiting these signs is to talk to them. Ask them how they feel about their interactions with others and give them the space to express their concerns in an open and honest way. This can be a great opportunity to have a dialogue about strategies they may need to use in order to manage their social anxiety.

Tips for Boosting Teen Confidence

If your teen is dealing with social confidence issues, there are a few things you can do to help them, including:

• Encourage positive self-talk – Help your teen learn how to use positive affirmations to counter negative thoughts.
• Practice being assertive – Role play situations that may cause anxiousness for your teen, such as asking a teacher for help or talking to peers.
• Be supportive – Encourage your teen to identify their strengths and focus on what they can do rather than what makes them anxious.
• Reach out for help – If your teen’s confidence concerns are severe, consider seeking out professional help from a mental health provider.

With the right support, teens struggling with social confidence can learn the skills and coping mechanisms needed to build self-confidence and find success in social situations.

Find Help for Teen Mental Health at Ascend

Ascend’s adolescent anxiety treatment in Los Angeles can make a difference. Through group therapy and individual counseling, teens learn to identify their emotions and react in healthy ways. Ascend’s dedicated team is here to help through a personalized, targeted program that’s designed to ensure teens develop the life-long skills needed to connect with others and participate in life fully.

Call 310.388.3713 or reach out to our team online to start an assessment and determine whether we’re the right fit for your family.