Teen Counseling
Teenagers and young adults are under a great deal of stress and are often silenced by their many social, school, and family pressures. Providing teens and young adults with the opportunity to take part in their own counseling allows them to further develop skills which promote independence. Therapy for adolescents and young adults can help improve their overall functioning at home, school, within the family, and with peers/social environment.
Common reasons adolescents/teens/young adults go to counseling:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress mangement
- Struggles with peer relationships
- Parent separation/divorce
- Isolation
- Self harming behaviors
- Social skills
- Parents experience teen as being increasingly oppositional and defiant
- Substance use
- School failure – drop in grades
- Perfectionism
- Gender role and sexual identity questioning
- Lack of meaningful relationships
- Trauma
- Addiction
- Teen pregnancy
- Medical/physical illnessTeen Questions
Teens/young adults might have some of the following questions:
Why should I see a therapist?
- To talk about things (friends, relationships, parents, school, etc.) that are bothering you.
- To get a (non-related) adult’s perspective on your situation.
- To work through a problem that you don’t want to talk with parents or friends about in a safe, confidential environment.
- To work through a problem that seems to never go away.
- To better understand yourself.
Will my therapist tell my parent(s) what I talk about in therapy?
- No. Your therapist will only talk with your parents if you are in danger or if you sign a release stating what you agree we share with them. Your therapist will discuss the rules about this during your intake session with you and your parent(s). In therapy, you really do have a private place to discuss whatever is on your mind in a nonjudgemental space.
