Teen Therapy
Understanding Teen Therapy: When, How, and Why
When Teen Therapy is Needed
The reality is that being a teenager is tough. Your teenager is juggling friends, family, school, extracurriculars, and the rollercoaster of puberty! It is a lot to handle, both internally and externally.
We believe that considering teen therapy is essential when your teen is:
- Struggling with consistent mood management
- Displaying negative behaviors they can’t address on their own
- Unable or unwilling to discuss their feelings with a trusted adult
By their teenage years, most kids should be able to recognize and express basic emotions like happiness, sadness, and anger. They should also be able to handle everyday ups and downs. Therapy can be a lifeline when your teen experiences significant changes in behavior or mood, or if they are facing a major life event or loss and are having trouble coping.
How Teen Therapy Can Help
Here at reTHINK Therapy, teen therapy has benefits both for your teen and for your family.
For Teens:
- Develops crucial skills like communication and emotional regulation.
- Helps them understand the connection between their feelings, actions, and consequences.
- Provides a safe space to explore questions of identity and self-worth.
- Teaches them how to build and maintain healthy relationships.
- Equips them with coping skills to manage negative feelings and behaviors.
For Parents:
- Provides guidance on how to best support their teen.
- Helps them understand and navigate their teen’s mood changes and behavioral issues.
- Provides validation that you are not the only family ever to encounter these challenges!
How Rethink Approaches Teen Therapy
At reTHINK Therapy, we understand that building trust with your teen is the first step. Initially, therapy sessions may primarily focus on your teen, with parent involvement gradually increasing as the therapeutic relationship strengthens. Parent and guardian involvement is often a more significant indicator of lasting change – as you innately have much more face time with your teen than we will! Our approach recognizes that parents and teens may have different goals for therapy. We work to align those goals, creating a collaborative environment for lasting change.
We also encourage parents to prioritize their own mental health. Research shows that the best outcomes for teen therapy often occur when both the teen and parent are receiving support. Parents may be encouraged to seek individual therapy as emotions and reactions arise from the stress of raising and supporting their teen.
Often in teen therapy, we find that symptoms have been present for months or even years. At reTHINK Therapy, we encourage parents to bring their child in for teen therapy if they have been experiencing negative emotions or behaviors for a month or longer. When a major life event or loss of a support system occurs, we often recommend starting teen therapy right away. We find that the sooner you get your child into teen therapy, the better. Extended symptoms make it take much longer to help your teen stabilize before we can assist them in learning healthier coping skills necessary for long-term stability.
Key Considerations for Teen Therapy at Rethink
- Early intervention is key: If negative emotions or behaviors persist for a month or longer, or if your teen is facing a major life event, seeking therapy sooner rather than later can make a big difference.
- We’re here to help: Our team is dedicated to supporting both teens and their families throughout the therapeutic journey.
Remember:
- Your teen’s well-being is our priority.
- We believe in open communication and collaboration.
- We’re committed to helping your teen develop the skills they need to thrive.
Take the first step towards a brighter future for your teen.