Editorial standards

Lighthouse Teens is a practical guide for parents who are trying to get a sense of what's going on with their teen. It's written by Jeremy Manné, who ran teen treatment centers for nearly 15 years and spoke with thousands of families about their child and how it was affecting the whole family. We're not clinicians or doctors, and nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for your teen's doctor or therapist.

How we use AI

Our articles are drafted with the help of AI, working under clear direction from us. Each one starts from our own knowledge base: Jeremy's experience from nearly 15 years of running teen treatment centers, a detailed editorial brief that sets the topics, tone, and safety rules, and a short list of approved sources such as the CDC, NIMH, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The AI writes from that material and those instructions, every factual claim is checked against the source it cites, and our team reviews every article before it's published. The direction, the judgment, and the final say stay with us.

How articles are written

• Every factual claim links to its source, and every article ends with a reference list. We cite government health agencies (CDC, NIMH, SAMHSA, NIDA), professional bodies (the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry), and peer-reviewed research.
• When a figure is old or comes from a narrow study, the article says so.
• Articles describe what parents may notice and when to get help. They never diagnose, and they never list diagnostic criteria.
• Articles on sensitive topics such as self-harm and eating disorders follow safe-messaging practices.
• We never recommend, rank, or promote specific treatment programs.

We're not clinicians or doctors, and this practical guide isn't medical advice. For guidance about your teen, always talk with their doctor or therapist. If you're worried about their safety, call or text 988, or call 911.