Therapy for Teens
Is Your Teenager Going Through A Difficult Time?
Have the ups and downs of the teen years taken a toll on your child’s mental health?
Are their mood swings or distressing behaviors worrying you?
Is your teenager struggling with changes from a major life event that recently happened?
The teenage years can be difficult for everyone, and your child is likely facing the roller coaster of emotions that adolescence brings. But they could also be dealing with anxiety, body-image issues, self-esteem trouble, depression, or chronic stress, among other challenges. Therapy can provide support for teens going through life’s challenges, opportunities to develop a strong sense of self, and help in building optimism for their future.
Signs Your Teen Is Struggling And Could Benefit From Therapy
Your child could be going through emotional and behavioral changes that are typical during adolescence. This includes mood swings, changes in their sleep patterns, or an increased need for privacy, sometimes much to the dismay of their parents.
There are more worrying symptoms to look out for that could indicate they are dealing with underlying mental health issues like anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other disorders. Anxiety includes symptoms of nervousness, a racing heart, and other signs of panic like intense fear, sweating, and fight or flight responses.
Detachment, intense anger, a loss of interest in things that used to make them happy, or periods of extreme withdrawal from others indicate they could be dealing with depression. They might have changes in their appetite or weight, or experience a decline in their academic performance as a side effect of these struggles as well.
No matter the cause of their struggles, a counselor can help them understand themselves better and work to manage symptoms so your teen can get back to living their lives and just being a kid again.
The Teen Years Can Create Unique Challenges For Everyone
The teenage years bring on greater responsibilities including more challenging school work and the pressure of juggling sports, hobbies, relationships, and maybe even a job thrown into the mix. It's no wonder kids can become overwhelmed. It takes time for teens to figure out their interests, preferences, and sense of identity in the world as well.
Trying to figure it all out while also going through the physical, hormonal, and emotional changes that the teenage years bring can easily create stress, anxiety, and even depression that therapy can help manage.
It’s beneficial for teens to take care of themselves and have a healthy balance of work and rest. However, not all young adults are known to be especially responsible in terms of prioritizing sleep and eating well.
Today’s Teens Face Unique Societal Pressures
Therapy Can Help Free Your Teen From The Struggles Holding Them Back
A therapist can help your teen navigate the ups and downs of life and serve as a sounding board for their difficulties. Therapy provides a unique opportunity for them to be heard in a completely objective environment by a professional who can help focus on the areas of life that are the most challenging for them.
Our online therapy program typically begins with building rapport and creating a safe, non-judgmental space for your teen to express their thoughts and feelings. Their therapist may start with open-ended questions to understand their concerns, challenges, and goals for therapy.
Additionally, as teens are more connected to technology, it's easy for them to compare themselves to others through social media, creating unrealistic expectations for what life is supposed to be like for them. Furthermore, the media available today can become addictive, especially to dopamine-craving young adults who may not understand how to impose healthy boundaries for themselves with media consumption.
All of these factors contribute to creating a stressful time for teens, and without support or therapy, they may lack the coping skills and resilience needed to manage these challenges effectively. Teens are less likely to listen to their parents when it comes to their problems as their family has too much emotion in their day-to-day lives.
Similarly, while friends are very important for teens and can provide advice and support, they are unlikely to fully understand how to approach life’s challenges as a professional therapist does. Therapy with Healing Journey Counseling can help teens navigate their challenges, responsibilities, and unique circumstances so that they can confidently face their day-to-day life again.
Skills To Manage Emotions, Build Resilience, And Navigate Life’s Challenges
Your teen’s therapist will teach them skills and tools that can help identify how their difficulties show up in their life and become aware of the thought patterns that keep them feeling down. These skills can help free them from the negative cycles that are in the way of them living as their best, authentic selves.
Emotional Regulation Skills - Utilizing methods like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can help your teen identify and label their emotions while learning skills to help regulate and manage them day to day. This includes aspects of mindfulness that can help your teen with stress management and learning to relax more easily.
Cognitive Restructuring - By practicing aspects of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), your teen will learn how to recognize negative thought patterns and confront them. Learning how to question the thoughts that automatically come to mind can be tricky, but this method works to break the cycle and rebuild more helpful thought patterns that provide freedom from assuming the worst.
Executive functioning Skills - Time management isn’t a natural skill teens develop and can take some effort to build, especially if they deal with attention or focus-based issues. This also envelopes problem-solving skills and strategies for juggling multiple responsibilities.
Social Skills - Learning how to assert themselves and communicate clearly is another skill that tends to work better when it is practiced regularly. This will also help your teen express themselves more truthfully, set healthy boundaries, and ensure their unique needs and values are met.
Additionally, we encourage our teens to collaborate with their parents in therapy. We try to help them understand that the relationship with their parents is a huge part of their recovery, whether it be from anxiety, depression, or other issues. We find it important to keep them in the loop as best they can because it will help them in the long run—and we even suggest parents join sessions from time to time.
Despite the low point your teen may feel they are at right now, hope and confidence are possible for them. They can experience all of the ups and downs of the teen years knowing how to address each challenge they face not with panic and fear, but with curiosity and an understanding that they’re on a path toward becoming the person they always intended to be.
You Might Still Have Questions Or Concerns About Teen Therapy…
I am worried that others will judge my child for being in therapy.
Seeking therapy is a sign of strength, not weakness. Everyone goes through tough times, and talking to a professional is a healthy way for your teen to take care of their mental health. The people who truly care about your child will support you, and those who judge probably don't understand how important it is to take care of their overall well-being.
My child wonders how much I’ll be involved as their parent in therapy.
In therapy, your teen’s privacy is important, and we can talk about what they’re comfortable sharing with us as their therapist versus you as their parent. Your child ultimately has control over what they want us to know versus what they want you to know, and we’ll work together to ensure they feel safe and heard.
I am worried my child will be in therapy for a long time before we see any difference in their behavior and mood.
While it is understandable to feel that way, therapy isn't about fixing things overnight. It’s a process, and even small progress is important. Sometimes, it takes time, but with patience, your teen will start to see improvements.
We also conduct frequent assessments and check in regularly regarding long-term goals to ensure we are making progress. You might be surprised how quickly your teen utilizes the skills we practice in therapy in their everyday life quite soon after learning them.
Let’s Start Your Teen’s Mental Health Care Journey
To discuss your teen’s unique needs and how therapy can help, call Healing Journey Counseling at (888)-959-6114 to set up a free 15-minute consultation, visit our Contact page.
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