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Going ‘Inside Out’ with Lisa Damour
The renowned clinical psychologist offers fresh perspectives on stress management, reflects on her time working with Pixar, and shares why her work means so much to her.
When Lisa Damour speaks, it’s with the confidence and articulation of someone who’s published three New York Times best sellers, advised UNICEF, and worked with industry leaders across the country on topics related to adolescent mental health. In early October, she met with students and employees at Interlochen Center for the Arts to discuss some of today’s most hot-button issues in adolescent psychology. Here, she shares some of the wisdom she’s gleaned over the years and what makes her work both fun and meaningful.
A fresh perspective on stress in teenagers
When asked about the most prevalent psychological issues for American teens, Damour is quick to respond: stress. “Young people are doing so much academically, socially, and artistically for their communities, but that comes with a lot of effort and demand on them,” she notes.
But instead of telling students to avoid or hide from stress, Damour emphasizes that stress actually has some benefits. It’s the way you work through it that counts.
“We need to normalize stress as essential to growth,” she says. “Young people do not need to be frightened of stress. In fact, if we're doing our job as the adults around them, we're helping them to work at their edge, to find the uncomfortable space and grow within it. We can let them know that stress, whether it's academic or artistic, is like strength training. When you do hard things, it doesn't feel good, but you also get better and stronger.”
She adds another point that seems counterintuitive at first: “Mental health is not about feeling good. It’s about having feelings that fit what’s happening, and managing those feelings well.”
When it comes to coping skills, Damour will always advocate for students to pursue healthy outlets, whether that’s expressing themselves through creative works like music and theatre or releasing emotions through exercise.
“It’s all about managing feelings in a way that brings relief and does no harm,” she says. “And it involves both expressing emotions and taming emotions. My aim with The Emotional Lives of Teenagers was to help people become more accepting and hold more space for the wide range of emotions that teenagers have. I want them to focus on high-quality coping skills rather than the presence or absence of distress. Coping doesn't have to mean a teenager talking about feelings. There are lots of ways to do it.”
Mental health is not about feeling good. It’s about having feelings that fit what’s happening, and managing those feelings well.
A movie that makes a difference
Damour shares her work through podcasts, blogs, monthly columns, and academic writing. Her books—Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers—have been translated into twenty-three languages. She’s spent years working with different kinds of media to express her insights. But one of the more enjoyable opportunities she’s had so far was the chance to work on the 2024 film Inside Out 2.
Following on the heels of its critically-acclaimed predecessor, Inside Out 2 takes viewers inside the mind of Riley, a young girl who lives with colorfully personified emotions. Just when she’s starting to learn to manage them, a group of new emotions decides to take up residence—and mayhem results.
“The whole process was fun, from start to finish,” Damour remembers. “I went out to Pixar a couple of times to meet with the teams out there. I was able to see drafts of the film and make suggestions and corrections. I went to the Hollywood premiere with my husband, which was really fun. But the best part was working with people who are simply geniuses in everything they do, all coming together to make a film. It was such an honor to work with them.”
Building a career on helping others
Damour is also a renowned speaker in her field, frequently taking to the podium to talk about well-being, parenting, education, and child and adolescent development. It was a natural fit for her to give talks at Interlochen, which has offered a haven for artistic youth since 1928. Damour’s remarks at the school focused on the topic of perfectionism, exploring the mindset which can both take young artists to the top and cripple their success.
“Perfectionism is a really interesting phenomenon,” she says. “At its best, it means striving for excellence, which is wonderful. The dark side of perfectionism is when people berate themselves for falling short of their aspirations.”
She urged students and adults alike to facilitate an environment where failure isn’t treated as the end of the world.
“When you don't get the outcome you're looking for, recognize that it’s okay to have a shortcoming,” she says. “You can hold yourself at a reasonable level of self-regard, even while acknowledging that there's still room to grow.”
Damour’s remarks were received warmly by students, staff, and faculty. Just like past invited speakers at Arts Academy, Damour will likely leave an impact long after her time on campus. That’s part of what she loves most about her job: the chance to help others.
“I get to help parents, educators, and kids, and I am so outrageously fortunate that I get to do the work I get to do and be of use,” she says.
From teaching about stress management to perfectionism, and from penning bestselling books to working with clients around the world, Damour finds a deep sense of personal fulfillment.
Learn more about mental health at Interlochen Arts Academy.
