Individual Therapy for Teens

It’s not easy getting through these years…

You’re a teen, and you want to feel independent and be treated like an adult.

Yet, you’re facing some of the most stressful stages of life and need guidance to move forward.

Maybe you feel pressured to achieve – to play a sport or instrument, apply to college, or earn perfect grades.

You also have to get along with your family and have an awesome group of friends.

On top of THAT, you’re expected to embrace your new and evolving body that you’re not comfortable with, manage your raging hormones, and post a perfect picture on social media!

Dealing with emotions is hard – especially by yourself.

In order to deal with your emotions, such as anxiety, depression, anger, or confusion (or NOT deal with them), you may turn to negative and self-destructive behaviors:

… negative self-esteem or poor confidence,

… difficulty managing a previous traumatic event,

… self-harm or thoughts of suicide,

… academic and school issues like cutting class,

… drugs and alcohol,

… impulsivity or lack of motivation,

… difficulty getting along with your parents, family, or even your peers,

… explosive anger toward those around you,

… hanging with the wrong crowd,

… disordered eating

…sexual behavior

… or general isolation.

With so many evolving emotions, you may feel perplexed and need a little extra support.

Parents: It’s more than teenage angst, moodiness, or hormones.

I know that whatever is going on with your teen is not only a hormonal or developmental phase. I don’t believe that because your teen is 16, they are just “acting out” and will “get over” this phase.

You are well aware that your teen is pulling away, which is a part of learning independence and understanding who they’ll be as an adult. However, they struggle to do this effectively, and it seems as though their behavior or mindset is becoming increasingly worse.

Teens have real problems and have difficulty managing distress in their lives. As a parent, it’s hard to see your teen in pain while watching them pull away from you.

Acknowledging the struggle and building trust…

I am deeply invested in developing a strong, trusting relationship with your teen.

You are an important part of your teen’s therapy.

Your involvement is crucial in order to support your teen around what they are working on and toward in therapy. While you may not always be physically present in the therapy session, your support matters; we will be in communication as much as you, your teen, and I deem appropriate.

Sometimes coming in for sessions will be needed, either alone or with your teen. However, this is also a place for your teen to independently vent, process, and deal with their emotions effectively.

Skill-building in a safe space…

I will help your teen develop effective skills while providing a safe space to process and work through the concerns that brought them to therapy.

Your teen will learn to manage their internal distress, become more mindful of their behaviors and concerns, gain insight into their past, and set goals for their future.

They will learn to communicate effectively with you and increase their ability to share their emotional experiences.

Together, we can embrace these teen years…

Hey, teens: You may feel overwhelmed right now but, together, we can work toward change and happiness.

Hey, parents: I know you feel stressed and want your teen to feel better. Therapy can help!

The future is now! Call today at (720) 254-3085