Teen Counseling

Are You Worried About Your Teen’s Happiness and Mental Health?

Does it seem like your teenager is no longer motivated or engaged in the things that used to give them joy? Do they have trouble sleeping, getting out of bed or going to school in the mornings? Are they are struggling with classes or avoiding important decisions about college, and although you want to help them, you don’t know how?

Perhaps the unfamiliar responsibilities that come with growing up are overwhelming them, leaving you concerned about their long-term development and success. Or, maybe your child is struggling in college because they lack the support and structure that helped them successfully navigate high school and you worry they don’t have the ability to self-correct.

It could be that your child is becoming increasingly isolated, irritable or aggressive and you are concerned that it may be signs of depression or anxiety. Or, they may be demonstrating destructive behaviors or tendencies toward self-harm and you want help understanding their motivations, easing their pain and reducing the self-harming behavior.

Raising a teenager to become their own person can make you feel both proud and frightened, hopeful and uncertain. If it seems that your child is struggling, you might feel guilty and powerless to address their challenges or motivations for problematic behaviors. And, even if you do have the means or knowledge to provide them guidance, ultimately, your child might be unwilling to actuate or even listen to that advice.

Would you like to help your child overcome their obstacles and feel empowered to become successful, independent and healthy, both mentally and physically?

The Journey Into Adulthood Is A Daunting Life Transition

Transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, with all of its challenges, can be a scary and stressful time in a young person’s life. Teens naturally feel a great deal of pressure to always be on top of their game which can be difficult to do while simultaneously managing an avalanche of new responsibilities, life decisions and emotional, hormonal and cognitive changes that come with the normal development of adolescence. In fact, it can be outright overwhelming, especially for teenagers who are growing up in the shadow of their parents’ professional success or in an environment of affluence, competition and prestige.

Today’s teens have the added pressure of being raised in a social context that places unrealistic expectations on physical beauty, individuality, relationships and success. And, if your child is suffering from an anxiety or depressive disorder or struggling to reconcile a traumatic experience, providing the help they need may fall well outside your natural abilities as a parent. Although social media gives one the appearance of having a broad network of support and friends, rarely does it offer the community of support that a teenager needs.

Fortunately, there is help and support available. With a compassionate and understanding youth counselor, your teenager can develop the tools, confidence and empowerment needed to lead happy, healthy and successful lives.

Teen Counseling Can Change Your Child’s Life

Private counseling for teens gives a young person space to receive the validation, understanding and awareness they need to make sense of their emotions, thoughts and behaviors. An empathetic and compassionate teen therapist acts as an impartial ally in whom your teenager can freely confide—a valuable alternative to friends and family members, from whom they may fear judgment or criticism.

I begin teen therapy sessions by first meeting with you and your child in order for everyone to get a feel for how I am in the room and to determine if I am a good match for your teenager.  In subsequent sessions, I like to encourage parents to allow their child to come alone so that they will regard this space and time together as something that is truly for them.

Your child and I will explore possible family of origin issues as well as aspects of personal history and social challenges that may be contributing to their emotional state. We’ll look at the challenges they are experiencing, how they manifest on a daily basis and the motivations for intrusive thoughts and emotions. I’ll show them what purpose destructive behaviors or disruptive thought patterns may serve in their life while simultaneously working to develop healthier, productive coping mechanisms.

By looking inwards and generating greater self-awareness, they’ll begin to see that whatever challenges they are going through are both natural and manageable. Over time, they can learn to reframe their identity into something positive, embrace their intrinsic integrity and honor their own self-worth.

It’s hard to understand what a teenager is going through—even if you are that teen. So, I always approach each client with unique regard to their individual concerns and goals. For instance, if your child’s behavior is linked to a traumatic event, I can give them the space to open up and discuss their pain without the fear of judgment or blame. I’ll teach your teen how trauma affects their body, emotions and, ultimately, all the relationships they have, all while offering them tools to help make painful emotions more manageable.

If they are demonstrating symptoms of depression, I can use cognitive behavioral strategies to generate greater self-awareness that can minimize distorted thinking patterns and lead to greater self-confidence. In the case that a purely therapeutic approach is not working, I can recommend doctors or other therapists who can offer a combination of medication and therapy for more effective healing. And if your child is living away from home, I offer online counseling services for college students so that they don’t need to be physically present in the therapy office with me. Or, if we begin their sessions while they are in high school, they can continue with me while they are away at college.

I understand that reaching out to a third party for help can be frightening, but doesn’t your child deserve professional help for their emotional, social and cognitive development in the same way they would deserve medical help for a physical ailment? By engaging in counseling for teens, you can rest assured that you have provided your teenager with an essential tool in their toolkit for learning the proper strategies and awareness of self and others that is needed to successfully navigate life’s challenges.

I think my teenager could benefit from personal counseling, but I have a few concerns…

I am afraid that I may be the problem.

Seeking therapy is seldom a reflection of one’s parenting ability. No family is perfect, and there is no shame in asking for extra support. In fact, reaching out for help teaches a young person that there are indeed ways to solve your problems effectively. This can empower them to confront problems later in life and seek therapeutic guidance on their own, should the need arise. If you are considering teenage counseling services for your child, you are a part of the solution, not the problem.

I worry that if we invest in teen counseling, my child will be forced to take medication.

I completely understand your concern. You can rest easy knowing that I don’t have the authority to prescribe medication. If your child could possibly benefit from a combination of treatments, which may or may not include medication, I would discuss this option with you as the parent. The truth is, counseling for teenagers on its own can have a profound impact on a young person’s life and may be the only support they need for turning things around.

I am worried that something bad is happening in my child’s life and you won’t be able to tell me.

You want what is best for your child—and so do I. Although it is important your teenager feel that this space and time together is theirs, it’s also understandable that you want to be informed. That is why, from the start, I will let you know what I can tell you about our private sessions and under what circumstances I am required or may choose to break confidentiality.

Teen Counseling Can Offer Hope and Help for Your Child

If you are the parent of a teenager who is struggling to navigate life’s challenges or “lift off” because of mental health or behavioral issues, I can help. Please call me at 408-868-9390, text me at 408-868-9390, or fill out the form on this page. I welcome any questions or concerns you have about my practice and how teen counseling may be able to change your child’s life.