The Truth About Unmotivated Teens (and What to Do About It) with Dr. Melanie McNally

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Do you have a teen who spends most of their time in their room, glued to their phone, avoiding homework, and tuning you out—no matter what you say or do?
You’re not alone—and today’s conversation will help you understand what’s really going on and what you can do about it.

In this powerful and practical episode, Sheryl sits down with Dr. Melanie McNally, clinical psychologist, brain coach, and author of Helping Your Unmotivated Teen: A Parent’s Guide to Unlock Your Child’s Potential and The Emotionally Intelligent Teen. Since 2013, Melanie has helped hundreds of adolescents build emotional intelligence, motivation, and confidence—and today, she’s sharing her insights with us.

You’ll hear why so many teens struggle with motivation today, how technology is affecting their brains and emotions, and what we can do as parents to help our tweens and teens develop drive, grit, and goals. You’ll also hear why the first step to helping your teen might be looking at your own phone habits—and how modeling change can make all the difference.

What You’ll Learn (quick hits)

• Why tech disrupts self-regulation—and how to set simple family guardrails
• The listening shift that opens teens up (pause, reflect, then respond)
• Using both intrinsic and extrinsic motivators wisely
• Pairing structure with choice (e.g., “one sport + one club,” teen’s choice)
• How to spot small wins and transfer those skills to school

Where to Connect with Dr. Melanie:

Website: drmelaniemcnally.com • Instagram: @drmelaniemcnally
Books:

Helping Your Unmotivated Teen : https://amzn.to/3IUpRc2

The Emotionally Intelligent Teen: https://amzn.to/3VSlzF8

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Sheryl also has an Inner Circle weekly Parenting Program with a community of like-minded moms, personal coaching, and tons of resources to equip and support you to love well, navigate the challenges and meet your tween and teen’s unique needs during these pivotal years.