Therapy for Teens
Is your teen struggling, increased frustration, more episodes of irritability? Is isolation and emotional distance a reoccurring concern? Are they overly hard on themselves with expectations of perfection leading to anxiety and shutting down? Do they not seem as happy as they once did?
Many of us can reflect on our teenager years with a mixture of emotions; fondness and fun or dread and discomfort are frequent responses. It is a period in life of immense change both physically and emotionally. The pressures to perform and conform are daunting. Managing those feelings and the expectations of ourselves and others can lead to damaging self-esteem and loss of direction. Helping yourself or your teen to gain balance and perspective at an early age will equip them for a lifetime of healthy coping and responses to life events.
Common Life Challenges Among Teens
Teens can often face some serious life challenges that impact their mental health and well-being.
- Loss – Loss can come in many forms, the death of a loved one or pet, loss of a relationship or break-up, and it can also come in the form of parental separation or divorce. Loss also happens when a family moves to a new location and the teen must go to a new school.
- Stress – A little stress is normal in life and can even be motivating. But too much stress can cause burnout at any age. Many teens face tremendous amounts of stress to do well in school, perform and produce in sports or activities, hold down a job, pressures to fit in and interact with large groups and find your smaller circle.
- Violence – Teens that are bullied at school or at home suffer, and often alone. If not dealt with, the aftermath of violence can result in PTSD symptoms.
This is not an exhaustive list of reasons why a teen may want to speak with a therapist by any means. If you think your teen could benefit from therapy, please reach out to me.
What Are Some of the Best Types of Therapy for Teens?
There are three general types of therapy for teens experiencing mental health issues:
Individual Therapy
In these private, one-on-one sessions, a therapist will typical use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help the teen make a connection between their thoughts and feelings, as well as understand how these impact their behavior.
Group Therapy
Group therapy can be very effective because it allows teens to see how their peers handle their problems. Most groups have five to seven teens and one leader who will ask questions and guide the conversation.
Family Therapy
In this scenario, the teen would go to therapy with their parent(s) and sometimes even with siblings. This style of therapy can be very beneficial as it allows the family to communicate effectively and respectfully.
Which type of therapy will be best for the teen will be determined by a trained therapist. Often, he or she will use a combination of all three of these types of therapy.
If your teen is struggling right now and could benefit from therapy, please reach out to me.