What is teen therapy?
Teen therapy is a type of therapy specifically tailored to teens. Teen counseling allows teens to express their feelings, identify and solve problems, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. With my experience in working with teens in a school and medical setting, I am comfortable working with a diverse population of teens. Relationship- building is important as a foundation to teen therapy, as teens can be resistant to therapy initially. I provide a safe and non-judgmental environment for teenagers to express their true feelings and thoughts and receive non-biased feedback and advice.
Counseling for Teens requires the close participation of parents or guardians, while also giving teens the independence that they crave. Parental involvement can make all the difference in the effectiveness of teen therapy because many routines and behaviors can be changed or tweaked at home to lead to greater teen success and happy, proud parents.
According to Erik Erikson’s developmental stages, identity vs role confusion occurs during adolescence from about age twelve to eighteen years old. During this stage, adolescents search for a sense of self and personal identity, through an intense exploration of personal values, beliefs, and goals. Teen years are a time for exploration and teens may face peer pressure to engage in drugs/ alcohol, have sex, dress a certain way, or to perform well academically/ athletically, etc. Not only are adolescents facing identity issues, but hormones are quickly changing during puberty that can cause mood challenges and disruptive physical changes. Some teens may be able to handle the challenges of this precious time without therapy but others may require more support depending on temperament, ability to manage stress, and life experience/ circumstance. Let me partner with you and your family to help your child navigate being a teenager in confusing times!
What challenges may indicate a need for teen therapy?
- Experimentation with drugs/alcohol
- Concern for teen sex/sex acts (seeding nude photos, sexting, pressure to complete a sex act from peers, etc.)
- Concern for eating disorder/disordered eating
- Excessive worry or concern with physical body changes
- Family arguments/conflict
- Concern for depression (could include suicidal thoughts, self-harm, extreme fatigue, lack of motivation, etc.)
- Concern for anxiety (could include panic attacks, physiological symptoms such as headache/nausea, refusal to participate in new/overwhelming activities, etc.)
- Untreated childhood trauma
- Behavioral issues (skipping class, defiance in school or with parents, foul language, etc.)
- Body image issues
- Extreme mood swings
- Inability to accept boundaries/rules
- Inability to manage school stress (either academically/socially)
- Excessive anger
- Easily influenced by peer group
- Poor school performance (failing grades, attention difficulty, etc.)
- Bullying
- Social issues (inability to make/keep friends)
- Technology issues (excessive time spent on phone, computer, or video game)
- Low self-esteem
What are the typical results of teen therapy?
- Benefits from EMDR/MBCT
- Increased self-confidence
- Improved relationships with friends and families
- Ability to identify and cope with difficult emotions
- Ability to assertively say “no” to peer pressure
- Better decision-making
- Ability to problem-solve
- Increased feelings of calm
- Improved body image
- Decreased behavioral concerns
- Decreased anxiety and depression
- Improved communication skills
- Decreased impulsivity
- Increased ability to compromise and communicate with caregivers/teachers/adults
BEGIN TODAY
You’ve made it this far. All that’s left to do is book your first appointment!