Don’t let the title of my recent post in Psychology Today fool you; little kids are not the only ones who employ psychological defenses to guard against emotional pain.  Tweens, teens, and adults alike often go to great lengths to mask inner pain with defensive words and behaviors.

Parents, teachers, caregivers and friends who recognize common, defensive verbal façades are in the best position to support a child’s true feelings.  Please check out my recent post on PsychologyToday.com to learn how to recognize four of the most common defenses used by kids.