Therapy for Teens

When to seek a mental health counselor for my teen.

You held that precious baby in your arms roughly 15 years ago. Now, they stay up later than you, would rather listen to their music, state that everyone else is allowed to (fill in the blank), and often give grunt replies when you ask how their day was. We get it. Teens can be tricky.

And while teens may look like grown adults on the outside, we all know, on the inside there is a tenderhearted little one who needs their parent’s loving attention, but who often pushes us away. What gives?!

How does mental health therapy for a teen work?

Our therapist’s goal when working with a teen is to help them feel heard, understood, reflect back to them reality, challenge them to identify their real potential, and give them tools to process their feelings so they can learn to take responsibility for themselves. Our therapists utilize many techniques, including: Timeline therapy, narrative therapy, recreational therapy, EMDR, Brainspotting, parts work, and experiential therapy. Depending on the needs of the teen, a therapist may choose to conduct some therapy session outdoors while throwing a football, playing cards, or drawing. The goal is to build a rapport with your child first.

Will I be involved as their parent?

We like to answer this question with a resounding yes! We believe a parent is ultimately the best “therapist” and resource for their child; afterall you know their intricacies best. During the course of treatment, the therapist may work with both the teen and parent(s) in the room together. There may also be times of just working with the parent(s). Working with the parents can be beneficial for 4 reasons: 1) It helps you stay informed on your child’s progress, 2) the therapist can provide tools, resources, and psycho education to equip the parents, and 3) The therapist can help facilitate healthy communication between the teen and parent, and 4) Parents often have the best intentions for their child,  but a parent’s desires for their child can be rooted in their own childhood wounds/trauma. A therapist can help objectively hold space for these wounds as they are identified and aired out in the parenting relationship. For this reason, we encourage all parents to be actively participating in their own individual therapy; often the key to a healthy teen is healthy parents.

When should I seek therapy for my teen?

Some common issues we see families facing that may indicate your teen needs to see mental health counselor are:

• Prolonged depression – Loss of interest in activities and relationships
• Prolonged anxiety – Inability to cope with everyday stressors, peer relationships, athletics, or academics.
• Identifying a true disability vs. apathy
• Risky behaviors
• Compulsive behaviors
• Gaming addiction
• Pornography addiction
• Inability to control emotions
• Identity issues
• Family trauma/grief
• Sibling relationships
• Oppositional/Defiant
• Failure to launch

How do I choose a counselor for my teen?

Seek experienced help for your teen. Many of our therapists have worked with teens and their families for years at treatment centers (Capstone Treatment Center and Youth Home Inc) that specifically serve teens and young adults. There, our therapists gained enormous expertise in the ages of 12-26.

Please contact our office to find out which therapist would be the best match for your teen and family.

We invite you to read more about parenting teens on our blog. (click the link)