Teen Counseling

Are You Worried About Your Teen’s Emotional Well-Being?

Does it seem like your teenager is always on their phone or in their room, isolating themselves from friends and family? Are they constantly tired or so stressed out that their grades are beginning to slip?

Perhaps they’re having a hard time fitting in socially—possibly even getting bullied at school. Or maybe your teen just came out as part of the LGBTQ community and feels ostracized, unable to find their place in this world because of their sexuality.

Teenagers don’t always have the ability or even the desire to articulate what they are experiencing, so their behavior can be difficult to understand. Your teen may be very sensitive or have trouble going out and engaging with friends because of social anxiety, so they withdraw and start to feel depressed. You may see them second-guessing their abilities or self-worth even though they are capable and smart.

Your teen may come off as angry or defiant, lashing out in frustration as they test boundaries and assert independence. And they probably feel as though no one can possibly understand what they are going through, so they push everyone—including you—away. At this point, all you want is to find some clarity and help your child overcome whatever it is that is truly holding them back.

That’s why working with a teen psychologist can be so effective—it gives you a better understanding of what your teenager is going through while empowering them to make the changes they want to see in their life. With a little help, you can deepen the connection you have with your child and ensure that they are well-equipped for the journey into adulthood.

The Teenage Years Never Seem To Get Any Easier

Teens are in that awkward stage of life where they’re still living under someone else’s roof, abiding by others’ rules while striving for independence. For them, all they want is to fly free, but they’re tethered to the ground by the apron strings of the financial, emotional, and physical support a parent inevitably provides. Plus, many parents naturally have a hard time granting their children independence out of concern for their well-being. So teens live in a gray area that’s incredibly hard to navigate.

In addition to the mountain of challenges teens already face, the pandemic has robbed many kids of their sense of safety and security, laying the groundwork for anxiety and depression. They’ve been forced into isolation, growing so comfortable in a digital world that trying to go back to interfacing in real-life, corporeal scenarios can be extremely stress-inducing.

And when it comes to high school, let’s face it, peers can be brutal. They can act two-faced, judgmental, unpredictable, and vindictive—all qualities that create a toxic environment for kids. And with cyberbullying, unrealistic cultural norms, and overt messages from social media, many teens have trouble just feeling comfortable in their own skin.

Unfortunately, at this time of life, teens’ brains are so emotionally reactive that it’s like their minds are on fire, so it can be hard for them to deal with their emotions. And parents don’t really know how to communicate with kids, so it can often seem like there is a huge impasse. But counseling can help you bridge that gap to ensure that you are raising a happy, healthy, and independent teenager.

Teen Counseling Can Be A Powerful Ally In Your Child’s Development

Every good parent wants to help their kid, but the truth is we have a hard time communicating with our children without making the conversation about ourselves. So teens can often feel dismissed or judged, even when you’re sincerely trying to help. Counseling, however, provides your teen with an ally who can validate and understand their experiences.

I’m here to talk about anything in the world: conflict with best friends, trouble with grades, romantic interests, you name it. My purpose is to provide your teen the emotional support, life skills, and self-awareness needed to address their challenges head-on.

In our first session, I’ll meet with you and your teen together to cover any stipulations, concerns, or goals either of you may have for therapy. If you have certain rules for the family, I want to make sure everyone’s on the same page so that I’m not working against you. My job is to act as a mediator that allows everyone to feel respected.

In subsequent sessions, I’ll meet with your teen exclusively to get a better idea of where they’re coming from. We’ll likely discuss the important people in their life, the challenges they’re facing, and what they would change about themselves or their family if they could. We’ll also address issues with poor body image, low self-esteem, sexual identity, feelings of grief and loss, or any negative self-beliefs that may be holding your teen back.

Although anything your teen says in therapy stays in therapy, I’ll still check in with you periodically to see how things are going at home and to offer you any support you need on your end. I believe that the more informed and engaged a parent is in the therapeutic process, the better off the teen is. So I like to work from a family systems perspective, taking into account everyone’s dynamic and how that plays a part in the bigger picture.

Combined with psychodynamic talk therapy, cognitive work, and EMDR therapy (primarily for trauma and anxiety in teens), family systems enables me to create a comprehensive treatment strategy that goes beyond symptom management. With my help, your teen can gain a better understanding of how their mind works, learn some valuable coping skills, and discover the strength they have inside to thrive.

I know it can be tempting to wait out whatever your teen is experiencing. But these are the last years before they spread their wings and set off on their own. So why not make the most of it? For you, therapy can teach you how to communicate and interact in ways that enrich your connection and make both people feel heard. And for your teen, counseling can help them cultivate a sense of accountability and responsibility for their actions while fostering the confidence to live independently.

Perhaps you are considering counseling for your teen but skill have concerns…

My teen is out of control and I’m not sure therapy can fix them.

Sometimes, when a person’s behavior is misunderstood, it can seem like they have a problem that needs fixing. But teens are incredibly complex individuals, and what may seem like a flaw could really be an indicator of something greater at play. Family systems work means having conversations about everyone involved. The goal is to understand the dynamics that each person contributes to the situation and make sure that everyone’s feelings are validated and their needs met.

My teen won’t talk to me, so I doubt they’ll talk to a therapist.

That’s often a common misconception because parents are only seeing what their kids choose to show them. Deep down, most kids yearn for someone they can truly trust. However, most adults are either relatives or school officials who all have some latent or overt bias, so kids (often rightly so) don’t feel like they can trust anyone. But therapy is a place where teenagers can truly be themselves without fear of judgment or reprisal. That’s why most of the teens I see are chomping at the bit to talk.

I’m afraid I’m such a bad parent that everything is my fault.

Look, parenting—every time around—is a new experience and we’re just doing the best we can, so it’s important to understand that you are not to blame. If you are calling in reinforcements, you’re doing great. You’re not admitting defeat or failure; you’re thinking of your kid’s best interest, and that is what a loving and responsible parent does. As children, adults, parents, we all screw up. But the point is to learn how to stand up and move forward. My job is to empower both you and your teen to do just that.

Let Me Help Your Teen Prepare For A Happy And Independent Life

The teenage years don’t have to be a nightmare for your child. Please call 229-686-6449 for your free, 10 to 15-minute phone consultation to see how my approach to teen counseling can help your young one overcome challenges and make a healthy and happy transition into adulthood.