***** Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) all sessions are being held via online therapy (telehealth) *****
Teen Counseling
“I think everybody’s weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and
not be embarrassed or ashamed of it.”
– Johnny Depp
Do you think your teen might need counseling and not sure where to start?
- Are you worried about your relationship with your teen?
- Maybe you’re seeing sudden changes in grades, mood, or interest in everyday activities?
- Do you have concerns with how your teen is dealing with Covid-19 and heading back to school?
- Is your teen using cutting behaviors or having suicidal thoughts?
- Maybe your teen is more irritable and prefers to be left alone?
- Or, are you just plain tired and out of ideas to help your teen?
Does it feel like you’ve tried everything?
It might be you’ve tried doctor after doctor or therapist after therapist with no significant changes. Perhaps, you might be losing hope that anyone can help. At first, you thought “Maybe this is just a phase,” but now it’s clear something bigger is going on. For others yet, your teen might appear they have it all together but they come to you wanting to talk to a counselor. They need someone to talk to because they are so overwhelmed or anxious with responsibilities at home, school, and outside activities.
It’s hard being a parent right now living in uncertainty when all you want to do is reassure your kiddos and yourself “Everything will be alright.” The reality is no one can say when or how things will continue to change in the coming months. But, bringing a little more peace to your home can be part of your answer and something you can change now. Whether it’s opening the lines of communication with your teen, working out differences in boundaries and rules, or allowing them a safe place to share their feelings and thoughts teen therapy can meet many needs.
If any of this sounds like your family, you’ve come to the right place.
Many teens experience mental health issues. Sometimes you have to light the path to change.
I cannot tell you the importance of getting your teen help whether or not they come to you asking for it. First, it’s important to teach our teens that experiencing mental health symptoms does not make them weak, broken, or unlovable. Many teens experience mental health difficulties and will need help at one point or another. Second, in my work as a therapist I see adults time and again sharing how they struggled with symptoms as a kid or teenager. They wish they would have gotten help in the past before mental health difficulties became more severe. You can change this for your teen.
The teenage years are both a time of change and growth. We need to support our teens as they explore their identity, their interests, and their futures.
Society often makes the mistake of realizing our teens are in pain until it’s too late. Teachers, coaches, therapists, neighbors, parents, anyone involved with teens has a responsibility to check-in on their mental health. We cannot afford to be quiet and sit back making the assumption they can work through things on their own. In 2018, the CDC released a report showing that for those between the ages of 10-19 the suicide rate skyrocketed 56% between 2007-2016. Together we’ll get your teen the help they need. We have to make it okay to talk about things.
Not Just Another Day. . . .
I’ve been thinking about the month of September since May. And while I have more to say and continue from my last post something else is on my mind tonight. Today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day. There’s a lot attached to this day. There are people out...
Teen Counseling Can Help Your Teen.
You’re not alone if you feel as though your teen just doesn’t want to talk to you. I can tell you through the years’ time and again I hear this same thing from parent after parent. And while the world often changes so quickly for teens from day to day, week to week, and year to year right now things have changed even more rapidly with Covid-19.
You’re searching for what can feel like an impossible task? But with this search you are steps closer toward changing your teen’s life and your life as a parent.
Not every therapist is meant to work with kiddos or teens. And, even if someone has the experience they may not be the best option for your teenager. The relationship is the most important thing in any counseling relationship, but with teens it’s even more important.
For the last seven years, I have developed a love of working with children and teens from the ages of 10-18. I have found it can take some longer than others to warm up. If a teen client wants to come into my office and say nothing for the first few sessions sometimes that’s what they need. And as quickly as teens can change their moods about music, friends, and hobbies you might find them changing their attitudes toward therapy. My goal in working with teens is to make sure they know I consider them the client and with it comes privacy. In sessions, we’ll do more than talk. I bring a different and unique approach to each teen I work with according to their interests. You might find with one teen I would play a game of chess, with the next drawing or artwork, These activities provide an opportunity for comfort, distraction from the hard things in life, and often I use them as a way for teens to teach me something new.
On the other side of things, I also understand how important it is to keep a great relationship with the parents, guardians, or other caregivers involved in a teen’s life. I welcome regular check-ins with parents and caregivers and believe it is an absolute necessity to improve relationships at home. Along with individual therapy I can also provide family therapy to discuss the bigger things happening in the family system. You see, too often I find parents and caregivers bring their teen to therapy with expectations of a “quick fix” or that the teen is the person to blame. Instead, I believe changes have to start at home within the family environment. If things don’t change there and the parents/ caregivers aren’t on board things will remain at a standstill.
You might be ready to start therapy with your teen yet still have questions?
Let’s get you answers.
My teen is so busy how will we ever fit therapy into our schedule?
Life is busy. The thing is doesn’t the busyness contribute to the stress in your teen’s life . . . and in your life. If so, why wouldn’t you want to make teen counseling a priority. It’s all about making it a routine just like you would any dance class, tutor session, or team practice.
Also, I offer flexibility in scheduling in a few ways. First, I offer a variety of appointment times including after school and evenings. Second, I allow a family to schedule out three appointments meaning you would know what day and time your sessions will be for three weeks in advance.
How involved will I be in my teen’s therapy sessions? What are the expectations of involvement?
While I recognize a parent’s right to information it’s important for you to understand I see your child as my client. Starting at the age of 11-12, I will treat your child/ teen as my client. With that comes the right to keep certain information private. I believe strongly in building relationships with both the parents and teens I work with. You can expect from the first session to be involved. I see it as my responsibility to help bridge communication efforts while holding the trust of your teen. I believe in empowering teens to share their needs, concerns, and feelings with their caregivers with my support and encouragement.
I encourage a few things from parents and caregivers including involvement. I would expect you to be there for the first session, treatment planning and goals, and regular updates and check-ins. I also strongly support family therapy or even individual sessions with the parents/ caregivers.
Let’s bring some stability and order to the conflicts you’ve been facing at home.
Imagine a new family IMPRINT. The constant fighting and frustrations can be a thing of the past. The fighting and frustrations of the future can look a whole lot different. Imagine a family environment where there is open communication instead of yelling, laughs outnumber the tears, and everyone actually enjoys spending time together. Just imagine what could be.
So, ready to get started? . . .
Interested in Teen Counseling and think we’d be a match? I’d love to help!
Contact me today for a free 15 minute phone consultation. . .