As an adolescent psychologist, I hear many parents talk about how their teenagers struggle to meet new people, and to initiate and maintain friendships. These same parents often worry about their teens isolating in their rooms, only socializing from virtual means. At times, parents report that their teen is afraid of speaking with authority figures, such as teachers or coaches, or they may avoid these interactions altogether. These behaviors can lead parents to assume their teenager is depressed or uninterested in engaging with others. However, much of the time, it’s actually just the opposite....