Therapy for Teens
Does Your Teen Seem To Be Struggling To Navigate Life?
Does your teenager appear overwhelmed with their school work, extracurricular activities, or social life? Have you noticed significant changes in their appearance or behavior? Do you want to help them but feel unsure how?
Or as a teenager yourself, you may be feeling scared, confused, or defeated because of challenges in your life. Perhaps school, social stress, or family conflict is drastically affecting your emotional well-being, and you do not feel like the person you want to be. Maybe you have concerns or questions about sexual orientation or gender identity and are unsure how to move forward. Or you may just feel like you cannot handle your problems alone.
Witnessing or experiencing these challenging transitional periods can be difficult for everyone. Parents and children may both just need support in navigating these challenges toward a fulfilling life.
Getting Older Can Be A Bumpy Road
Navigating the teenage years can feel isolating and overwhelming as adolescents contend with the challenges and uncertainties of this pivotal stage in their lives.
Your teen may be experiencing anxiety, depression, and high levels of stress, often outwardly expressed via a persistent lack of happiness or feeling disconnected from themselves. Low self-esteem, low mood, or heightened irritability are also common alongside these teenage difficulties.
On the physical side, teenagers may experience symptoms such as stomach aches or significant shifts in their appetite, weight, or sleep patterns, all tied to disruptions in their overall well-being. A notable lack of motivation to engage in activities they once enjoyed can make happiness hard to come by.
Seek Therapy can provide the expertise and support that teens need to help them find themselves and their way in the world.
It Is Common For Teenagers To Face Challenges During This Transitional Period
It is quite normal for teenagers to question their identity and their place in this world, and challenges can be expected during their quests for self-discovery. However, there are times when teenagers display signs of distress beyond what one might expect, sometimes leading to disruption or unhealthy coping mechanisms. When this happens, they need support and direction more than ever.
Teenage mental health struggles are pervasive. Despite increasing awareness, a high number of teens suffer from anxiety, depression, self-esteem struggles, or other concerns, often without receiving support. Fifteen percent of teens have had a major depressive episode in the past year, and ten percent deal with major severe depression. (1) Additionally, nearly one in three teens have an anxiety disorder. (2)
Numerous Factors Can Contribute To Teenage Mental Health Struggles
There is no one cause for teenage mental health struggles. Numerous factors contribute to these challenges as adolescence is a pivotal period marked by emotional, cognitive, social, and biological development. Teens are in the process of discovering and refining their identities as they transition into adulthood.
Additionally, although pervasive social media serves as a tool for connectivity, it also carries risks, including bullying and the detrimental effects of constant comparisons—especially as tied to body image and adherence to cultural norms. Supportive parents may also fall into patterns of unintentional "helicopter parenting," which can leave the teenager ill-equipped to handle struggles independently. On top of all this, the recent pandemic added an extra layer of difficulty to this already challenging period by limiting their experiences and introducing potential new triggers for anxiety or OCD.
Whether you are a parent or a teen yourself, seeking therapy is one of the best decisions you can make to give you the opportunity to understand these struggles and discover ways to overcome them.
Therapy Can Help Your Teen Enjoy Life’s Journey
Our therapy work with teens allows us to provide them a safe space to openly discuss their struggles. It gives them someone on their team who can help them make sense of their world as they navigate it.
We offer an environment for them to seek help with complete trust, knowing that what they say will remain private with the therapist (even from their parents) unless there is a serious risk of harm to themselves or others. Therapy gives them a place to be themselves and breathe more easily. A place where they can learn how to handle their battles—both now and for the remainder of their lives.
My Approach To Teenage Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an approach used in teen therapy that employs techniques like recognizing and navigating "thinking traps" and developing coping mechanisms for handling anxiety-inducing concerns. It also shows them how the things they do (or do not do) can directly impact how they feel.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) guides teens to focus on their values and personal goals while acknowledging and accepting aspects beyond their control. ACT also introduces mindfulness techniques to help them manage distressing situations.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills equip adolescents with the techniques they need to navigate interpersonal relationships, manage distress spikes, maintain an improved emotional baseline, and integrate mindfulness practices into their lives.
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) treatment is an effective approach designed for helping parents when their child or teen is grappling with anxiety, OCD, “failure to launch,” or related issues but may not be inclined to attend therapy themselves. This modality involves working directly with parents to help them manage their own responses to their child's anxiety, ultimately enhancing the well-being of everyone involved.
At Seek Therapy, we work to ensure that each session provides space for the teen to discuss their ongoing life events while maintaining an overall focus on strengthening their mental health foundations. Most importantly, we meet teens where they are.
Perhaps You Are Considering Teen Therapy But Still Have Some Questions…
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A critical part of therapy is confidentiality—what you say will be kept private between you and the therapist. This applies to teens, too. Before starting treatment, we make sure that both the teens and parents are aware that what is said in sessions stays in sessions, with exceptions made only in special cases, such as when someone is at great risk of harm. Any other information will only be shared with parents with your approval.
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It can feel hopeless when you feel overwhelmed by things completely out of your control. These issues may be on a personal level, such as around family or school, or they may be at a bigger level, such as issues in culture, society, or the world as a whole. Therapy provides a place to discuss your concerns and find ways to manage them to the best of your ability. We are here to support you through whatever you are facing and to focus on what you can change, which is you.
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Many people, including teens, can benefit from therapy but may be reluctant to attend, either based on assumptions, expectations, or even prior experiences. No one can be forced to change, and being forced to continue therapy can feel more like punishment than support. However, if teens are willing to try, they often find unexpected benefits from having a person and space dedicated to helping them with their issues. We aim to meet them where they are to build connection and trust. Alternatively, the SPACE treatment approach can work directly with parents to help you manage your child’s stress more effectively.
At Seek Therapy, We Help Teens Live Their Best Lives
Juggling identity, self-compassion, peer dynamics, anxiety, and more can feel lonely and stressful. Seek Therapy can provide the tools needed to help teens manage these struggles while making the most out of these years. To learn more about how we can help you or your teen, please call (310) 971-9800 to schedule a free 15-minute consultation. A fulfilling future awaits.
For a free 15-minute consultation, please call or leave a voicemail at 310-971-9800.
(1) https://www.mhanational.org/issues/2022/mental-health-america-youth-data
(2) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
