If we want to help Gen Z thrive, we have to help them tell a better story.

In this episode of Season 2, Andy and Kelly sit down with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford to explore how today’s teens are interpreting their lives—and why so many feel stuck.

Building on research from the Barna Group, this conversation unpacks a growing trend: Gen Z increasingly views life through a “therapeutic lens,” where emotions define reality and struggles are quickly labeled or diagnosed.

While this has led to greater emotional awareness and reduced stigma around mental health, it also comes with challenges.

When every hard moment is labeled as trauma—or every feeling becomes identity—young people can lose sight of the bigger picture. Instead of seeing emotions as signals, they begin to see them as the full story.

And that’s where parents co ...