Is Your Teenager Or Young Adult Struggling to Make Friends?
Honest, grounded support for parents who are worried - and don't know what to do.
Watching your teenager or young adult struggle to make friends is one of the hardest experiences in parenting. Perhaps you're watching them trying, again and again, and getting knocked back. Perhaps they've just stopped bothering. You lie awake wondering what you did wrong. And you want to help - but you don't know how.
My name is Hannah Carmichael, and I'm a leading friendship and connection coach. I also spent seven years as a youth worker, helping teenagers and young adults find the confidence to build brilliant connections. As a mum, a stepmum to two teenagers, and a former foster mum, I understand this from the inside too.
Why I created the guide
My work on friendship to date has been mainly with adults aged 30 and over. However I just can't ignore the overwhelming number of parents coming to me desperate to find a way to help their teenagers and young adult children, and the approaches I'm getting from young adults themselves (18 - 26). I've written this guide as a first step to providing some much-needed help for the people best placed to offer meaningful support.
Ways I Can Support You
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The Free Guide 'Left Out'
Get 'Left Out' NowThe best place to start. Download your free copy of Left Out and work through it in your own time. It's designed to be genuinely useful resource that helps you make immediate progress.
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One-to-One Support
Book A Discovery CallIf you'd like something more tailored - either for yourself as a parent navigating this, or for your young person directly - I offer one-to-one coaching (please note I typically only work directly with young people aged 17+, however I am happy to work closely with parents). The best way to explore whether 1:1 support is the right fit is to book a free 60 minute Discovery call. We'll talk through your situation, and I'll be honest with you about whether and how I can help.
Register Your Interest
I've only recently started working on support (outside of 1-1 coaching) for parents of young people who are struggling to make friends. If you've read the guide and would like more support with the specific issues you're facing, but don't feel that 1-1 is the right option for you at the moment, please let me know. It takes time to prepare workshops and courses, and I will only do this if there is enough interest! No commitment, I'm just looking for a sense of whether e.g.: a 3 hour workshop and / or a 6 week group coaching programme might be of interest. You can also email me hannah@daretobelong.com and let me know your idea.
Testimonials
Young person, 2026"I just really like her! Hannah is so warm and friendly."
Parent, 2025"It's been so relieving to know I'm not alone in this. Sorry for crying!"
Parent, 2026He said he found it genuinely helpful which was amazing to hear - he said he had never thought e.g. about your body language point re who to approach in a new group.