Dr. Lem Usita saw the teen mental health and social media crisis coming long before the world started talking about it. In this unbelievably powerful episode of The Vibe Podcast with Kelly Cardenas, we dive deep into parenting teenagers in the digital age, adolescent identity formation, social media addiction, teen anxiety, screen time, dopamine, emotional health, and how parents can build a stronger foundation for their kids before technology shapes them first.

This conversation is not just important for parents in North County San Diego, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Oceanside, and Southern California — it’s a conversation every parent around the world needs to hear.

Long before Instagram, TikTok, and smartphones dominated teenage life, Dr. Lem Usita began researching how adolescents form identity in online spaces. His groundbreaking doctoral dissertation through Biola University became a roadmap for understanding the collision between technology, parenting, leadership, faith, and mental health.

What makes this episode different is the simplicity and practicality of Dr. Usita’s framework. Using James Marcia’s identity formation model, Dr. Lem breaks down exactly where teenagers are developmentally and gives parents a practical pathway to help their kids create confidence, clarity, resilience, and a firm emotional foundation in a world constantly competing for their attention.

And honestly… his knowledge is only overshadowed by his heart for people.

This wasn’t just an interview. It was one of those conversations that stays with you long after the cameras stop rolling. Kelly and Dr. Lem unpack the questions parents are afraid to ask:
• When should kids get phones?
• What is social media actually doing to identity?
• Why are anxiety and depression skyrocketing in teenagers?
• How do parents lead instead of react?
• What does healthy identity formation actually look like?

Take Dr Lem Usita's assessment HERE