Our January speaker series featured Dr. Ann-Louise Lockhart, pediatric psychologist, board certified in clinical child and adolescent psychology, national speaker, and author of Love the Teen You Have: A Practical Guide to Transforming Chaos into Connection. She shared LOTS of practical information for providers working with teens, including five micro-interventions you can start using right away. These micro-interventions are small by design - but when used consistently, they can meaningfully improve communication, trust, and efficiency in even the busiest clinical settings.

1. The 90-Second Rapport Reset

You're likely doing some version of this already, but a light emotional check-in can quickly strengthen connection. Try: "On a scale of 1-10, how annoying is today?"

A little humor plus emotional attunement goes a long way in building trust, especially with teens.

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2. The Autonomy Cue

When sharing a diagnosis or plan, offer a choice in how information is delivered: "Do you want the short version, or the deep dive?"

This respects autonomy and helps patients and parents feel more in control of the conversation.

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3.The Parent Containment Line

When a parent is dominating the conversation, gently re-center the teen without dismissing the parent: "Thank you - I'll get your perspective in a minute. Let me start with your teen first."

This signals that both voices matter, while prioritizing teen-focused care.

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4. The Validation Pivot

When a teen says, "I'm fine," validate first and then invite more: "Got it. And if 'fine' had a second sentence, what would it be?"

Using metaphors ("If 'fine' were the weather...") can unlock deeper responses without pressure.

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5. The Limit-Setting Script

Clear boundaries can actually increase openness: "I'm not here to tell you what to do, I'm here to help you figure out what works for you."

Or: "You don't need to tell me everything, but the more I know, the more I can help."

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Watch the complete recording of Dr. Lockhart's session HERE!

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To learn more about Dr. Lockhart, check out her website for additional resources and referrals.