When Our Kids Won’t Talk

I’m a psychiatrist—helping people feel better through conversation is literally part of my job. Yet here I was, at a loss with my own 10-year-old, who was clearly struggling but refusing to let me in. I tried every tool I had, pouring as much nonjudgmental curiosity and empathy as I could into my efforts.

Then it hit me—my need to know what was wrong was just that: my need. What he needed in that moment was space and emotional safety. He would share when he was ready—or maybe he wouldn’t—and he needed to feel that either way, our connection would remain intact.

Read the rest of Dr. Wang’s piece on Psychology Today