Therapy for Teens
Being a teenager is hard
And most of us would benefit from a therapist to help us get through it. Not every teenager needs a therapist, but your teenager might benefit from seeing a therapist if they are experiencing:
Social rejection or isolation
Questioning their identity and where they belong
Struggling to “find themselves”
Significant loss or changes in their life
Suicidal ideation or self-harming behaviors
Excessive worry about their future
Adolescence is an intense time of change, growth, and challenge. Many teens struggle with their mental health and could benefit from some additional support. Teens need a therapist who talks to them like an adult, but supports them in the areas they are still learning.
How is therapy for teens different?
Adolescents are trying to figure out who they are and where they belong. They start to pull away from their family, challenge authority, and try to make their way in the world as independently as they can. As they are flooded with all the changes that happen in their teen years, mental health can become an incredible burden. That’s why I balance the mental health needs of teens with the developmental needs. I honor their need for exploration and discovery with whatever mental health challenge they are facing.
After a significant loss or death, anyone’s world turns upside down. Now when that happens during a time when our sense of the world is already unstable, it can be an immense pressure to the already chaotic tasks of just surviving high school. I recognize the complexity in this, and work with every aspect of a person to help alleviate the burdens.
Therapy that doesn’t feel like “therapy”
Sometimes teens are resistant to talking about it. I get that, and I am ready to help them express themselves in a way that feels natural. We can use music, art, movement, or even video games to help them explore their feelings and process their emotions. To help teenagers who don’t want to talk to some stuffy old therapist, I focus on the therapeutic relationship. I ensure that they feel heard, respected, and valued for their thoughts and opinions.