Joanna Fortune: My daughter is struggling to make friends — what can I do to help? 

Friendship is such a big part of life that when it proves difficult for us, it can overwhelm everything that is going well in our lives

Joanna Fortune: "Friendship is such a big part of life that when it proves difficult for us, it can overwhelm everything that is going well in our lives." Picture: iStock.

My daughter is 16, brilliant for her age, and seems to connect better with people older than her. In everything she tries, whether it’s sports or artistic pursuits, she excels. 

However, her social life is non-existent. She feels there is something wrong with her and wonders why she can’t hold on to friends. Her confidence is starting to take a battering.