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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Dd15 avoidant - counselling will it help?

19 replies

MumofAvoidantTeen · 05/01/2026 11:23

Help! Does dd15 need counselling? I feel I can’t get past her barriers at all, and we are struggling. I have identified lots of classic avoidant behaviours across her childhood, but these are expressing themselves in a couple of troublesome ways I need to fix.

First:food hoarding in her bedroom, and second her bedroom being unbelievably messy - not just clothes, but wet towels bundled in with clean clothes, things stuffed in cupboards to avoid dealing with them, half-drunk glasses of OJ left to fester and so on. I try to respect her privacy - she insists I must not cross the threshold of her room these days. I have stated that there is a limit to what I can put up with and i have to know if her wardrobe contains mouldering food.

The background is:

  • doing fabulously at school, self motivated, organised and popular - over a dozen great friends who value her kindness and sense of fun
  • Not sure if she has deep friendships - hard to say. She hasn’t seen friends socially outside school in over a year, although frequently in touch on SM (is that normal now?!)
  • has always been avoidant, even from a tiny age I used to call her “Teflon” when I talked to dh about discipline. She takes stuff inside and locks it down, intensely private about everything - space, personal hygiene. She didn’t mention when she started her periods even though I am (I think) very open and matter of fact. She struggled with a difficult bereavement age 10 and also when I was very unwell recently - she completely shied away and refused to talk about it at all. Flies into angry rage if I encourage her to talk.
  • i am probably “too emotional” as a rule, and dh is controlling and taciturn by nature. She doesn’t respond to anger or attempts to draw her out into “deeper” conversation about what she is finding difficult in life. She doesn’t share anything private and closes down conversations either angry, walks away, “can we not do this now”, “make you point we don’t need to talk”, “stop going on about it”. I stay calm and unreactive 95% of the time, and it makes no difference

I am going to set a rule : no food in her bedroom at all. We tried this once before and I couldn’t make it stick - unless I ransack her room (which feels like grossly overstepping) she will find ways to hide food and make a disgusting mess even if superficially it looks like she has tidied up (I insist on this once a week, simply so we can get in and vacuum).

Im thinking some professional help would support this - how the heck you drag someone very hostile and avoidant to a therapy session I’ve no idea! But if she can’t or won’t speak to me or her dad, I feel she needs some way of accessing the problem. She is very bright and capable of lying without being detected. She has no moral compunction about lying or manipulating- I think she quite enjoys it in some ways (hobby interest in psychology).

OP posts:
LucyMonth · 05/01/2026 11:25

Stop psychoanalysing your poor child as a hobby.

ThisOneToo · 05/01/2026 12:01

What does she do outside of school? You mention she hasn't seen any of her friends for over a year.

MumofAvoidantTeen · 05/01/2026 13:57

LucyMonth · 05/01/2026 11:25

Stop psychoanalysing your poor child as a hobby.

What kind of reply is that?! It’s not a hobby it’s parenting. I wouldn’t deem to try and deal with problems like anorexia or OCD on my own - but I’d be bound to observe those problems and wonder about it them since I’d see evidence of them every day of my life wouldn’t I? So then should I ignore those problems and say “oh seems like dd doesn’t eat much and is wasting away but I buy heathy food so nothing more I can do?Or “seems like DD is washing her hands until they are so dry they’re bleeding and weirdly she isn’t using the hand cream I gave her so oh well nothing more I can do.”

I care about her and I want her to grow into a fantastic adult. I’m not psycho-analysing; I’m looking for ways I can tackle a problem without simply yelling at her to try and bully her into changing (which definitely wouldn’t work). I can’t ignore the problem as it’s literally causing a health-hazard, and it’s not responsible parenting to ignore it. What do you suggest I do?

OP posts:
Radyward · 05/01/2026 14:01

Is she autistic do you think ?
My dd age 16 has a diagnosis. Sounds a bit like your DD and is attending ACT.acceptance and commitment therapy. Its early days yet but she goes willingly

MumofAvoidantTeen · 05/01/2026 14:23

@ThisOneToo she has out of school friendships at her sports club (four hours a week) and at DofE which meets and messes about every week. Her best friends are quite far-flung and she resists gentle suggestions to invite them round or encouragement to meet up. Over Christmas there were several mooted meet-ups, but they fizzled out - either she didn’t go, or they didn’t happen.

I know for a fact she has some excellent friendships and this side of things is and has always been very secure. I imagine her friends might want to see more of her and it’s her that doesn’t let herself get drawn into hanging out outside school (aside from her journey home).

OP posts:
MumofAvoidantTeen · 05/01/2026 14:33

Radyward · 05/01/2026 14:01

Is she autistic do you think ?
My dd age 16 has a diagnosis. Sounds a bit like your DD and is attending ACT.acceptance and commitment therapy. Its early days yet but she goes willingly

Thank you for your comment. I don’t think so - I have wondered about it, perhaps some neuro diversity but if so it’s not a classic presentation of ASD. She has a very pragmatic approach to life - she’s doesn’t indulge in sympathy or empathy, hates any “mushy” TV or books. I was almost sure she had ARFID as a child, but she has grown out of it.

It was someone else who suggested to me that she is avoidant, and when I googled it, it’s the best fit . Just now trying to figure out if counselling would cause more trauma or likely to actually help her. She literally cannot talk to me about problems, I thought a disinterested therapist might help.

OP posts:
Raisinsandweetabix · 05/01/2026 21:24

MumofAvoidantTeen · 05/01/2026 14:33

Thank you for your comment. I don’t think so - I have wondered about it, perhaps some neuro diversity but if so it’s not a classic presentation of ASD. She has a very pragmatic approach to life - she’s doesn’t indulge in sympathy or empathy, hates any “mushy” TV or books. I was almost sure she had ARFID as a child, but she has grown out of it.

It was someone else who suggested to me that she is avoidant, and when I googled it, it’s the best fit . Just now trying to figure out if counselling would cause more trauma or likely to actually help her. She literally cannot talk to me about problems, I thought a disinterested therapist might help.

One of the main symptoms of ASD is a lack of ability to show empathy (they do still have it) please please don't brush this under the carpet... if she is happy with her carry on then leave her to it. My 13 year old DD is ADHD/ ASD and demand avoidant, the school years are so incredibly tough for them that it's their safe space/ release at home.

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/01/2026 04:30

Well done on not reacting to your dd and keeping things calm. That sounds very difficult.

From everything you’ve written, I’d say neurodivergence. Girls mask and don’t present in a classic way so reading online about traits won’t necessarily help.

Have you heard of PDA - pathological demand avoidance? The lying will be doing something for your dd. A way to avoid. I doubt she’s deriving Machiavellian pleasure from this. More likely she’s found this is a neat way to manage her anxiety and isn’t totally understanding the social implication, which needs explaining to her. She’s smart. It’s effective. I suggest looking at ASD compulsive lying for more information.

The inability to cope with when you were ill imo was out of a place of abject fear. Meaning your dd literally shut down because she was too afraid you might die as well. She is heavily avoidant and literally can’t talk about it because it’s too difficult to process. My dd did exactly the same with me with my second surgery. I thought she coped with the first but she obviously didn’t. She was then really cruel to me with the third. I now know she disengaged because it was too painful to do otherwise because my first surgery was so traumatic for her and she was afraid I was going to die. If she cut me off she didn’t need to care about me and in her head my death would hurt her less.

If you suspect an eating disorder your dd has ‘grown out of’, please be careful with this. It was a real struggle to get my dd to eat a variety of foods right from a baby. But I did it. Your dd is very anxious and it’s probably going to get worse. At the start of year 11, my dd developed eating issues. Looking back the signs were there but I thought things would ease post GCSE and I lost loads of weight at her age as well. My dd ended up with anorexia and the ARFID came back, big time. She isn’t diagnosed because she refused to engage with CAMHS. We are doing this privately and the eating disorder coach said anorexia jumped on the back of the ARFID.

My dd is in therapy. It took many months to engage. She refused to go for a long time and can now withstand a 1.5 hour appointment once a month. For us, the rest of the time, it’s twice weekly parent sessions, so you can see the lion’s share to bring dd along happens outside of her therapy.

From everything you’ve written your dd isn’t just going to engage in therapy. You would need a therapist, who specialises in neurodivergence. And that would start with you getting the tools yourself to be able to deal with your dd in a different way so that you can get her to buy into therapy. This is how I got my dd to therapy. And a dynamic therapist, who doesn’t sit there waiting for your dd to engage but actively teaches you how to get her to work with the therapist.

If you really want the room sorted, I would suggest that you give her the tools. Give her a laundry basket for her dirty clothes that she brings down on a Monday and Thursday for example. If there’s room, consider buying a free standing towel hanger. Instigate rules around eating. Eg cups and plates to be brought down every morning before school. And include cleaning her room. Make a list of things you want to see happening.

I imagine you’ll know not to start with the list. This is the sort of thing that would work with my dd if she had messy bedroom issues. Get your dd’s buy in by saying that you want to respect her privacy, however, you realise that because you were so eager to maintain this that you’ve forgotten she’s going to be an adult one day and you realise you haven’t been teaching her the skills she is going to need to look after herself. And that this is on you. And that these are things for her and her future. That you're willing to help show her how to do stuff and you don’t know what that looks likes. Maybe specific tasks or setting aside a day, when the two of you could sort her room out for her. Ask her what she thinks. Then present her with the list of things. Don’t make it too hard for her.

If she goes mad / refuses, just explain that you want to continue to respect her privacy and this is the way to do that. However, if this is not something she wants to do, as the adult, you're going to come into her room to sort it for her or with her eg every Sunday. So it’s in her best interest to do this so that she can maintain her privacy.

Then put the list on the fridge or a cupboard so she sees it all the time.

W0tnow · 06/01/2026 04:39

I’ve honestly never really understood the idea of a teen’s bedroom being their sacred space even when they allow it do descend into a messy, smelly, cesspit. Yeah, no. I respect my kids’ space because they do. No food. Beds made daily, kept reasonably tidy, sheets changed regularly. Don’t give me a reason to go in and I won’t.

Newbutoldfather · 06/01/2026 05:12

I agree that a room is not private unless the person is in it.

I expect my teen boys’ rooms to be clean and tidy and help them if it gets too bad. They are cleaned once a week by a cleaner.

And, equally, my room is not private from them. They regularly bath in my en-suite or help themselves from the laundry/towel area which is in my room.

I honestly don’t believe that anyone wants to live in a shit hole, they just let it get on top of them and, without adult help, can’t sort it out.

Timeforchai · 06/01/2026 05:22

You dd’s room sounds familiar.My dd had a diagnosis of inattention ADHD and the medication has turned her life around in all aspects except for the state of her room.
She now lets it get to a certain level of disgusting and then blitzes it. She’s a young adult now so leave her to it.

1stjan2026 · 06/01/2026 06:27

She sounds a lot like my DD and we’re currently having her assessed for ADHD. She’s also started CBT which has been great for her.

ringswishbeep · 06/01/2026 06:35

She is very bright and capable of lying without being detected. She has no moral compunction about lying or manipulating- I think she quite enjoys it in some ways (hobby interest in psychology).

What sort of things does she lie about? Teens lying or omitting things to their parents is a fairly normal part of growing up.

Lying and inventing nasty gossip about other people for thrills and giggles on the other hand would be extremely concerning.

Luddite26 · 06/01/2026 06:49

Sounds like she could be ASD with PDA profile.
Have a look online or a read there are a lot of books now and posters on substack.
Also the PDA society.
Tackling her bedroom and explaining about hygiene etc needs sorting in a certain way. Maybe cash rewards could be an incentive?

LucyMonth · 06/01/2026 16:23

MumofAvoidantTeen · 05/01/2026 13:57

What kind of reply is that?! It’s not a hobby it’s parenting. I wouldn’t deem to try and deal with problems like anorexia or OCD on my own - but I’d be bound to observe those problems and wonder about it them since I’d see evidence of them every day of my life wouldn’t I? So then should I ignore those problems and say “oh seems like dd doesn’t eat much and is wasting away but I buy heathy food so nothing more I can do?Or “seems like DD is washing her hands until they are so dry they’re bleeding and weirdly she isn’t using the hand cream I gave her so oh well nothing more I can do.”

I care about her and I want her to grow into a fantastic adult. I’m not psycho-analysing; I’m looking for ways I can tackle a problem without simply yelling at her to try and bully her into changing (which definitely wouldn’t work). I can’t ignore the problem as it’s literally causing a health-hazard, and it’s not responsible parenting to ignore it. What do you suggest I do?

You never mentioned her “wasting away” or “washing her hands until they’re bleeding” in your OP…

I never said you should ignore her issues, but diagnosing her as “avoidant personality” is not parenting. It’s armchair psychology.

Plenty of replies here have mentioned that this rings so strongly of ASD and you are brushing it aside because you’ve already “diagnosed” her.

As a teen who has experienced grief in childhood and the anxiety of your serious ill was it is unfair to diagnose her as having a personality disorder when this could be a normal reaction to trauma….or ASD…or both. To leap to a personality disorder because you have a hobby interest in psychology isn’t helpful.

Mummyoflittledragon · 06/01/2026 19:44

LucyMonth · 06/01/2026 16:23

You never mentioned her “wasting away” or “washing her hands until they’re bleeding” in your OP…

I never said you should ignore her issues, but diagnosing her as “avoidant personality” is not parenting. It’s armchair psychology.

Plenty of replies here have mentioned that this rings so strongly of ASD and you are brushing it aside because you’ve already “diagnosed” her.

As a teen who has experienced grief in childhood and the anxiety of your serious ill was it is unfair to diagnose her as having a personality disorder when this could be a normal reaction to trauma….or ASD…or both. To leap to a personality disorder because you have a hobby interest in psychology isn’t helpful.

I have now re read this post. Oh gosh I didn’t realise the eating and OCD was current. That is serious now. The OCD is quite possibly related to the ED. You need to get an urgent referral to CAMHS op. The ED threads are a great resource. If she’s wasting away and not eating much, that’s way more important than a messy bedroom. And it’s likely she’s eating alone because she struggling to eat in front of you right now.

Edit to add, I also agree with this.

aCatCalledFawkes · 07/01/2026 11:29

It might be that she needs counselling but do you think she will engage in it? My son's room is just awful and he has a few issues. I suspect if he would engage in counselling it would be helpful but he refuses too and I don't want to push him in to a place where he thinks it's punishment for being himself IYSWIM?

IsabellaGoodthing · 07/01/2026 15:23

OP, the mess in the bedroom needs dealing with, but your DD very likely feels persecuted and invaded by your excessive attention and analysing of her character. Give her some privacy to have her own thoughts and feelings.
About the mess, I would try saying that it bothers you and ask not about her motivation but how you can find a way to keep the room reasonably clean without invading her space. You could suggest family therapy as a way of finding a compromise.

Justbecauseyoucandoesntmeanyoushould · 07/01/2026 15:35

Sounds familiar... My DD as a teen didn't do the disgusting food hoarding but was otherwise messy beyond all reason. We could never see the carpet in her room. She was/is very clever, funny, a good circle of friends, and is now professionally successful. Like yours, she was intensely private and still is, to the point where she will calmly but firmly tell me when it's none of my business.
She was diagnosed with ADHD in at the age of 30.

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