Teen Counseling
A Safe Space to Open Up
Teen Counseling
A Safe Space to Open Up
Are You Concerned About Changes In Your Teen’s Behavior?
Has your teenager been feeling unusually down and discouraged lately? Recently, have you noticed that they’re:
- Avoiding school, neglecting homework, and struggling with motivation?
- Acting defiant, rebellious, and engaging in more risk-taking behaviors?
- Struggling with negative body image and feelings of low self-esteem?
- Going through the challenges of body and brain changes during puberty?
Maybe your teenager is simply overwhelmed with all the pressure from school, extracurriculars, and social media. They might turn to substance use and other risky habits to cope with their distress. Or perhaps your teen just doesn’t seem like themselves lately—they’re not as sociable as they used to be and they’ve been spending unusual amounts of time in their room. As a result, maybe you’re thinking it’s time to talk to a teen therapist.
As The Parent, It’s Disheartening To See Your Teenager Struggle
Whether your teen is dealing with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or relationship challenges, you’ve probably begun to feel frustrated and discouraged with your parenting. Perhaps you struggle with feelings of guilt, as if you’re responsible for your teen’s mental health issues. You might ask yourself questions like: Where did I go wrong? What could I have done differently? How did things get to this point?
The truth is that you’re doing the best you can—sometimes, teens simply need extra help and support. And at Early Connections Child & Family Counseling, we’re here to validate your efforts and provide the compassionate care your teen needs. We will equip them with healthy and effective coping skills and empower them to live with more confidence and pep in their step.
Teens Are Bombarded By Overwhelming Expectations—And So Are Parents
In the age of smartphones and social media, teens face a wealth of pressures that previous generations never had to worry about. They have access to so much information that it can feel disorienting, as if the world is at their fingertips. Add on academic stress, bullying, and peer pressure and it’s no wonder so many teenagers in today’s world struggle with their mental health. They’re stuck in an endless cycle of negative influences that constantly leave them feeling like they can’t measure up to others.
Parents also fall prey to an unhealthy “compare-and-despair” culture. The internet is rife with mommy blogs and parenting influencers all clamoring for their attention and telling them the right way to parent. In the face of all this conflicting advice, many parents don’t know who to believe. After all, what’s true of one teen may not be true of another, so most of the parenting guidance out there may not be relevant for each unique family situation.
Are Your Teen’s Behaviors Age-Appropriate or a Sign of Deeper Emotional Pain?
It’s all too easy to get hung up on a teen’s behavior and focus on the external symptoms—poor academic performance, staying out past curfew, or drinking and using drugs. But beneath these behavioral challenges, there is usually an underlying hurt or unmet emotional need. So the question you have to ask yourself is: Are my teenager’s struggles the result of normal teenage impulsivity and self-exploration, or is something deeper going on?
By seeking professional intervention, you can more easily get to the bottom of your teen’s challenges instead of just focusing on their behavior. You can set your teen up for long-term success, ensuring they have the skills and strategies to thrive both now and into adulthood.
Counseling Offers Teens A Path Toward Healing, Growth, And Greater Confidence
What every teen needs most is a space to be seen, heard, and accepted, and that’s what Early Connections provides. Our team of therapists use a collaborative, client-centered approach to help teens identify patterns, clarify values, and set realistic goals for themselves. We empower them to explore their identities, regulate their emotions more effectively, and build stronger connections with friends and family.
What’s more, our counselors stay current on teen culture and use relatable, compassionate approaches to connect with teenagers from different backgrounds. We specialize in providing therapy for anxiety, depression, and many other teenage mental health challenges. We also partner with parents and caregivers to equip them with skills and resources to support their teen in daily life.
What To Expect In Teen Therapy Sessions
Every teen is different, and that’s why our practice always tailors therapy for every teen that walks through our doors. In the beginning, we’ll have an intake session with you to discuss your concerns, get some background information, and set goals and expectations for therapy with your teenager. From there, we’ll start meeting with your teen individually and focus on building a relationship, helping them explore their inner world, and equipping them with skills they can use for a lifetime.
Your teen can expect to have a voice and a choice in their therapeutic journey, which may include exploring ways to:
Navigate Social Challenges
Regulate Their Emotions
Manage Stress
Communicate Effectively
Our therapists draw from a wide range of evidence-based approaches, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which can help teens challenge negative thought patterns and view themselves in a more positive and empowering light.
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), an approach that focuses on giving teens practical skills for reducing and managing emotional distress.
- Eye-Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR), which can help teens heal from a variety of traumatic and overwhelming life experiences.
- Art and Creative Expression, an approach that allows teens who may have a hard time talking about their mental health to express themselves creatively.
Along the way, we want you to play a vital role in your teen’s healing journey. We will equip you with strategies and resources for supporting your teenager outside of therapy. And if it’s needed, we can even have family sessions with you, your partner, your teen, and the rest of the family. We are flexible to the needs of each teen and family that we see, and we believe that a collaborative approach is the surest way to set your teen up for long-term growth and success.
You May Have Some Questions About Teen Counseling…
It’s normal for teens to feel resistant to counseling at first. Our team is experienced in connecting with hesitant teens and building trust and rapport to engage them. And the space we provide is not disciplinary, but safe, collaborative, and empowering.
What’s more, if your teenager doesn’t want to just sit and talk, that’s okay—we have games, art materials, snacks, and other creative activities they can engage in during therapy. We like to incorporate each teen’s interests, making sure counseling is individualized for them.
Therapy is confidential, but we still want to collaborate with you on setting goals and creating a treatment plan. We regularly connect with parents, so we will keep you up to speed on your teen’s progress and provide strategies and resources that you can use with them at home.
Every teen is different, so the timetable is based on your teen’s specific needs. Whether your teen needs short-term or longer-term care, our therapists are here to help them accomplish their goals. We want to help teens build their independence and resilience so that they can thrive.
Set Your Teen Up For Success With Counseling
If you want to ensure that your teenager is well-equipped to manage the stressors of the teenage years and be prepared for adulthood, we encourage you to pursue therapy with us. To learn more about how we can help, you can fill out our contact form or use our scheduling page to book a free consultation.
