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Think about the last difficult conversation you had with your teenager.
Were you the one pushing, demanding, trying to make something happen?

Or were you the one trying to smooth it over, fix it, make everyone feel better?
Or did you go quiet — overwhelmed, shut down, unsure how you even ended up here?
Most of us cycle through all three. Sometimes in a single conversation.
These aren’t random reactions. They’re roles. And once you can see them, everything changes.

The Drama Triangle.
Developed by Stephen Karpman, the Drama Triangle describes the three roles people unconsciously adopt in conflict:
The Rescuer — who helps not out of genuine care, but to avoid discomfort, stay needed, or escape their own feelings. (The most common one for parents who “just want peace.”)
The Persecutor — who criticises, controls, or demands, often believing they’re just “setting standards” or “being firm.”
The Victim — who feels powerless, blamed, and hard done by. Who can’t see a way out. (Harder to admit, but more common than most parents realise.)

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: all three roles feel completely justified from the inside. That’s what makes them so sticky.
In this session we’ll explore:
- The three Drama Triangle roles and how they show up specifically in parenting teenagers
- How to recognise which role you default to — and which one your teenager pulls you into
- Why rescuing isn’t the same as helping, and how to tell the difference
- The role-switch dynamic: how you can move between all three roles in minutes without realising
- The shift out of the triangle — from Victim to Creator, Rescuer to Coach, Persecutor to Challenger
You’ll leave with:
A clear picture of your default role — the one you slip into most under stress with your teenager.
A concrete understanding of what’s driving each role — and why willpower alone won’t get you out.
One specific shift you can make this week to step out of the triangle and into something more honest, more connected, and more effective.

Who this is for
This session is for you if:
- You find yourself doing a lot of emotional labour for your teenager — and wondering why it never seems to be enough
- You’ve noticed you sometimes go hard, and sometimes go soft, and neither seems to work
- You feel caught in the middle of family dynamics you didn’t design and can’t seem to escape
- You’ve been in this series, or you’re joining for the first time — this session stands alone and will make immediate sense
What to expect on the night
A warm, honest space. Short teaching blocks. Specific examples you’ll recognise. A guided reflection to identify your default role.
Questions welcome — the messier the better. Camera off is completely fine.
Practical details
- When: Thursday 12 March 2026, 5:30–6:30pm AEDT (Sydney)
- Where: Online via Zoom
- Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85498861119?pwd=1DaQ2nnh9LilqHISOcuXgtHsM7RiCa.1
- Cost: Free
Click Attend to save your spot.
If you know a parent who seems to be holding everything together for everyone else — you’re warmly invited to share this with them.
See you Thursday.
Angelique
Bee Positive Coaching

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