Adolescents and Teens
It’s been difficult lately connecting with your teen – they’re wanting to go out more with friends, spend more time by themselves, and if you ask how they’re doing you usually get one-word answers like “fine” or “okay.” So instead of receiving answers, you have more doubts. Maybe you noticed this shift slowly happen over the years, or maybe it feels like it happened overnight. What you do know is, is that this weird, invisible wall that seems to have popped up out of nowhere between you and your child scares you. It prompts worries such as:
- “Am I doing enough?”
- “Is this my fault?
- “Do they not trust me?”
- “How can I help them if they need it?”
These worries and fears are normal and valid. The truth is, your teen is changing. They’re growing, physically and psychologically. Those big changes can bring about big emotions, too!
Adolescence can be challenging yet also rewarding. It is a crucial stage in development. This includes a growing desire to establish a sense of autonomy (independence/personal responsibility), develop their identity (“Who Am I?”), and understand their place in society (Peers/friends) and the world at large. Adolescence is the bridge to young adulthood. It is a time of risks, but also of great, positive opportunities for growth.
Teens often experience generalized or social anxiety, self-esteem and body image concerns, challenges with coping with their emotions and talking about them. Often, teens want to have a safe space of their own to work on themselves in counseling (revisiting that independence and autonomy bit here!). Individual therapy for teens is helpful in honoring their privacy and space. Research shows that one of the more influential factors in therapy with teens is the quality and trust in the therapeutic relationship.
In therapy, teens will commonly learn communication skills to help them put their thoughts and feelings into words, learn how to cope with their emotions, identify triggers, learn problem-solving and decision-making skills. Commitment to treatment is another skill they learn!
Family work is often an integral part of working with teens – so, yes, YOU are important, too! Family sessions focus on building communication skills and relationship-building. Sometimes, parents may need help building upon their existing parenting tools, and that’s where parent sessions, which are one-on-one with your teen’s therapist, comes into play.
The therapeutic setting, when it meets the conditions of trust and safety, can be the space for a person – teen or adult – to grow.
If you or someone you know is struggling, therapy at Harmonia Wellness may be the right place for you.