Therapy for Teens

TBH… school sucks and sometimes people do, too…

Yeah, I said it.

And I welcome and encourage honest communication in my sessions. It’s okay to say it like it is. And it’s true – high school can be the absolute worst for some teens.

I still don’t understand why high school starts so early or requires such minimal stimulation throughout the day (unless you count gym class –which I’m sure you just LOVE… (insert eyeroll).

Teens were made for such a different lifestyle during these years.

You’re always tired, school starts too early, appetite is all over the place (even though you’re expected to eat lunch at like 9:30 am) …

… your friends can be super unpredictable and often unreliable…

… you’re given the highest expectations of things to accomplish (we’ve all had that time of year where every teacher gives you 46,784,026 assignments all due in the same week)…

And most parents have no idea what it’s like for a teen today, so they end up minimizing the struggle by saying things like, “I wish all I had to do was go to school.”

Riiiigghhhtttt.

Wait, you actually like teenagers?!

Umm… YEAH! Teens are absolutely AMAZING clients to work with! I can’t believe how many people still ask me this question – and I’m still surprised by it every time.

Teens are at the perfect age to jump into that next-level work on self. They are looking at the world and their life in brand new ways with the most amazing awareness and insight.

They bring plenty of questions and a beautiful blend of emotion and rawness that I wish the world would appreciate a little more.

I help teens do all the necessary processing and navigating through their experience in a safe and supportive way. I help teens identify and regulate their emotions and create healthy relationships with self, family, and friends.

I work with them on learning and practicing new coping skills (that actually work) and reduce the potential for engaging in unhealthy or harming ways of coping with stress.

I believe there is a huge benefit to looking at the whole system and the important roles that each person plays in a teen’s life. I often collaborate with teachers, family members, and other supports to help teens develop a strong and structured system that supports their growth and change.

Therapy with teens can include some of the most creative approaches and interventions…

… and this is why I love it so much! We can use art, music, and interactive therapies to help them feel engaged and connected to the work they are doing in sessions.

By using creativity and genuine connection, we create a space for your teen to really explore their current struggles. This space helps us get to the root of the issues.

In initial sessions, my focus is always on creating a trusting and respectful relationship so that your teen feels truly heard and valued. I’ll then continue with a thorough assessment over the first three sessions, creating individualized goals and action planning, and helping your teen begin the steps to alleviating their pain and feeling okay again.

What if my teen doesn’t want therapy?

Well, I definitely wouldn’t still be in this field if I wasn’t prepared for a little resistance from time to time, right?

Teens (and really all people) can feel a little ambivalent about therapy. Some just flat out aren’t interested and refuse. (You mean, sitting in a room with a stranger for an hour talking about the most uncomfortable and vulnerable details of your life doesn’t sound like something you’d want to do?)

The reality is that therapy is hard work – and it’s totally okay if you or someone else isn’t so sure of it just yet. However, that doesn’t mean we need to throw the whole idea away.

There are lots of ways to support teens today.

And it’s super important that we not give up on them or the process. Teens are in a very important developmental stage during these years, and it is imperative that we use all the energy we have to best support this last stage of growth.

Without the right supports, we face a lot of risk in losing teens to paths of undeveloped self; suffering from experiences that they can’t cope with, leading them to engage in cycles of unhealthy behaviors, poor choices, low self-worth, and failed relationships.

This is our last chance to help teens really connect with themselves and work toward solidifying a strong and healthy self that is prepared for adulthood.

If your teen isn’t ready just yet, then we meet them exactly where they are.

We validate and support where they are in this process so far and provide other guidance and support in the meantime.

We can start off with parent consultations and a sharing of resources and skills your teen can start on their own at home. We can access supportive therapies such as workshops, group therapy, and collaboration with their community or school staff to increase their daily supports.

We can utilize phone/text and/or video chat for added support in-between sessions as well. We want to send the message that your teen is seen and heard, and we want to validate them in their experience and current needs, whatever they may be.

Help your teen find their HAPPY…

Are you ready for your teen to get back to being themself again? Let’s help your teen find their happy.

Call (267) 989-9113 today to schedule a free parent consultation and start setting the path to your teen’s success.