Psychologists Off the Clock

Psychologists Off the Clock


297. School of Hard Talks with Emily Kline

April 05, 2023

If you find yourself struggling to connect with the adolescents in your life, don't worry, you're not alone! The truth is, building relationships with teens and young adults can be challenging, but with the right mindset and approach, anything is possible.


Get ready to be inspired by our guest, Emily Kline, a Harvard-trained clinical psychologist who has written a practical and research-backed guide called "The School of Hard Talks: How to Have Real Conversations with Your (Almost Grown) Kids". Whether you're a parent, teacher, mentor, or just someone who wants to connect better with the younger generation, this book is a must-read for improving communication and building stronger relationships with young people. So, let's dive in and explore some of the key insights and tips that Emily has to offer.


Listen and Learn: 
  • The guiding principles of motivational interviewing for adolescents 
  • How is motivational interviewing helpful
  • What we know about expressed emotion and how it can empower parents
  • Why adolescents are often more willing to follow the advice and direction of supportive parents than those who demand obedience
  • Emily breaks down the foundational skills needed for hard conversations with young adults using clinical scenarios

Resources: 



About Emily Kline:

Emily Kline is a clinical psychologist and writer who has held faculty positions in psychiatry at Boston University and at Harvard Medical School. She created a simple motivational interviewing curriculum for family caregivers and The School of Hard Talks Online free e-course, and her book, The School of Hard Talks: How to Have Real Conversations with You Almost Grown Kids is now available. 


Emily lives with her husband and children who graciously beta-test her experiments in family communication and a dog who can’t be reasoned with at all.


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