Is Your Teen Struggling Mentally, Emotionally, Or Behaviorally?
Are your teen’s troubling behaviors or mood swings a cause for concern? Maybe your son or daughter refuses to follow instructions or acts disrespectfully toward authority figures. On the other hand, they may be isolating themselves from friends and family, leaving you in the dark.
Is your teen falling behind academically? They may be struggling with behavioral problems or cognitive impairments. Or perhaps they act out in class or fight with their friends. You might also fear that your teen’s anxiety or depression are holding them back, especially if your teenager refuses to complete their school work—or even go to school in the first place.
Do you fear for your child’s safety? Maybe your teen is using alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs in an attempt to cope with anxiety or other difficulties. You might also suspect that they are self-harming or even suicidal, particularly if they are showing signs of depression.
Perhaps you have done everything you can think of to help—including visits to multiple therapists or residential treatment programs—but to no avail. You may feel frustrated, angry, or hopeless if your teen is struggling, especially if their friends or peers seem fine.
Problems during adolescence are not exceptional, nor are they insurmountable. Help is available—for both you and your teen—to overcome these struggles.
Teens Today Face Many Challenges
Some teens are born with cognitive impairments or other mental health challenges, and the turbulence of adolescence makes these challenges more apparent. Others struggle to mentally navigate the transition to adulthood. Overall, many teens experience mental health challenges. In fact, 20% of adolescents have some kind of diagnosable mental health disorder.
Why are so many teens struggling? The need to fit in—and the competing desire to develop a unique identity—is a common source of stress at this age. Academic pressures and expectations are high. And political and cultural polarization can place teens into difficult positions. The influence of social media also leads many to compare themselves to idealized versions of others—a recipe for low self-esteem. All of these factors and more have resulted in high rates of teen anxiety and depression.
Power struggles between parents and children are also common at this age. While teens typically fight for as much freedom as possible, their parents’ priority is to protect them. Parenting a troubled teen in today’s world can feel like a daily battle, but it is possible to restore peace and tranquility both at home and at school. With the help of a compassionate teen counselor, you can give your teen the support and guidance they need while accommodating their growing independence.
Teen Counseling Can Provide A Much-Needed Safe Space
Pressure from authority figures, stress at school, and many other factors can add up to make teens feel under constant attack. Our office can help your teen cope with these challenges by acting as a safe space where they can vent their frustrations and be themselves.
Therapy can also serve as a source of self-discovery and growth. Teens who are overwhelmed, depressed, or who lack confidence tend to forget about their own strengths. As part of our strengths-based, client-centered teen therapy program, we will help your teen recognize their unique abilities and teach them how to tap into their internal resources. We will also empower them to challenge any negative self-beliefs they may have internalized.
We believe healthy relationships are key to teens’ emotional well-being, so we’ll explore how your teen’s depression, anxiety, or other issues may be affecting their relationships (both with others and with themselves). This relationship-oriented approach can help your teen see themselves and others more clearly and develop new, healthier ways of relating.
We’re committed to helping our clients heal as quickly as possible. At the same time, we don’t want therapy to feel threatening or uncomfortable, so we try not to take ourselves too seriously. By leveraging the power of human connection (and well-timed humor), we will encourage your teen to let down their defenses, giving us access to new insights we can use to help them heal.
Since we recognize that every teen’s needs and goals are unique, we’re very flexible in our approach. Depending on your preferences, we can collaborate with your teen’s school, teachers, or other caregivers as needed. We also offer family therapy, parenting support, and group sessions.
We’re very proud of what our teen therapists and their young clients have accomplished together. We have seen students with significant cognitive disabilities achieve academic success. We have helped trauma victims develop healthy relationships for the first time. And we have provided guidance for teens lacking confidence to help them rediscover and build on their strengths. Whether your teen is struggling with a mood disorder, behavioral issues, or something else, we will do everything we can to make their lives easier and set them up for success.
As you consider teen counseling, you may have some hesitations…
I don’t like the idea that my teen may need professional help.
Unpleasant experiences are part of growing up. The anxiety, depression, and other difficulties that can result from these experiences are likewise normal and natural. Some teens can muddle through without professional help, but others progress more quickly with the support and guidance of a teen psychologist.
Bringing your teen in for therapy doesn’t mean there is something wrong with them (or with you as their caregiver). It just means they could benefit from a bit of extra help.
Why should I bring my teen to Groupworks and not some other teen counseling center?
Every one of our teen psychologists has a doctoral degree, which means they have gone through thousands of hours of advanced training and supervision. This clinical expertise empowers them to provide the highest quality of care.
At the same time, they will strive to see your teen for who they are as a person, not just their clinical diagnosis. Our teen counselors recognize that establishing a trusting relationship with your teen is more useful than labeling them. Thanks to our evidence-based, client-focused approach, we have very high success rates.
How do I know you can help with my teen’s specific issue(s)?
By the time they talk to us, many parents are exasperated. Some have already seen multiple therapists or been to residential treatment programs without success, leaving them feeling exhausted and at the end of their rope. Until we begin working with your teen, we won’t know what approach might work or how long the process may take. But we assure you that we will do everything in our power to help.
Give Your Teen Every Chance To Succeed
If you’re still not sure if Groupworks can provide the support your teen needs, please contact us to learn more about our teen counseling services. We have a reputation for success with even the most complex cases, and we don’t shy away from a challenge. We’re looking forward to working with you!