Adolescent/Teen Counseling
From mood swings to school issues, all teens have problems. But sometimes these problems can become too complicated, too distressing for the teen to handle on their own. That’s when it might be time to seek professional help.
Your Teen Isn’t The Problem
Parents often agonize over their adolescent’s sudden change in behavior, wondering how things changed so quickly or got so bad.“ He was such a happy kid.” ”She’s never done anything like this before.” ” I don’t know what went wrong!” But often it’s not any one thing that could have been anticipated or avoided. As it is with most teenager-related questions, the answer is always complicated. Teens are often struggling with stress, grief, bullying, sadness, anxiety, shame, feeling overwhelmed about their future, dating and friend drama, gender identity issues, etc. Teens can also experience multiple of these things at the same time. It can be difficult to know when your teen is going through these things in a healthy way or when they need help. According to the World Health Organization, close to 20% of adolescents, ages 11-19, experience mental health issues or distress. Depression, Anxiety, and other emotional disorders rank high as the leading cause of illness and disability for this age group. Symptoms can overlap across multiple emotional disorders and include anything from rapid mood swings to stomach aches.
Adolescence is A Unique and Challenging Time
For adolescents, this period in development is underscored by an innate conflict between who they were and who they will become. They push against or away from parents and authority in an effort to define themselves and their own identity. But as grown up as they feel, they are still developing and growing. Their brains haven’t yet caught up with the rest of their body and so they often struggle with executive functioning tasks, risk management, forethought and emotional regulation. As a result, they can get swept up in bad situations, thoughts, and patterns that they are ill-equipped to handle yet on their own.
So How Do You Know if Your Teen Needs Help?
Some common things to look out for are:
Changes in mood or behavior (including depression, irritability, aggression, isolating or withdrawing)
Heightened anxiety or stress reactions
School or social problems
Substance use or abuse
Self-harm (such as cutting, hitting, scratching, etc.)
Suicidal ideation or attempts
Traumatic events or grief
Can Counseling Help My Teen?
Counseling doesn’t have to be reserved for serious mental health issues or life-altering events. Meeting with a therapist can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems and can help give the teen tools to help themselves in the future. Some benefits of counseling may include improved self-esteem and confidence, reduced anxiety or depression, improved coping and communication skills, reduced or eliminated self-destructive behaviors, improved relationships with parents and peers, and overall feeling happier and healthier. If you’re questioning whether your teen or pre-teen might need treatment, err on the side of caution and reach out to a professional. We can help you figure out what support would be best and to help determine the best match in a potential therapist.
What If My Teen is Hesitant About Counseling? How Can I Bring It Up?
If your teen doesn’t want to or is hesitant to talk to someone, that’s ok, many teens are. It’s common for teens to be embarrassed by their problems or minimize them to avoid feeling shamed. In this case, it’s important how the subject of counseling is brought up. The first conversation often sets the tone for the teen’s attitude toward counseling. You can also encourage your teen to try counseling for a few sessions and then make the decision from there. There’s nothing wrong with brief check-ins or establishing a relationship for a future time.
If your teen just refuses to attend sessions, don’t force them to go. Instead, consider coming in yourself. You might be able to get some new ideas, strategies, perspectives, and skills that can help you, your teen, and your family cope through difficult times.
At Pathways to Wellness, we strive to build a trusting and helpful relationship with you and your teen. Whether it is social skills building, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), guided change, stress and anger management, emotional art expression, or just a place to talk. We work with the teen to create a space that works for them and that will help them better understand themselves and their world. No one method is the best for everyone, so we integrate professional and personalized care to each individual situation and client.
Life can be challenging at any age, but having support navigating the inescapable uncertainties of adolescence can make an untold difference. The teen years don’t have to be as challenging as they appear and you definitely don’t have to go through them alone. If you or your teen is struggling, please reach out to start the process.
If we can answer further questions for you, just call 714-432-9856 and we will be happy to help you.
