Teen Counseling

Are Troublesome Behaviors Impacting Your Teenager’s Ability To Succeed?

two teens sitting on top of a car who need teen counseling

Is your teen exhibiting symptoms of depression or anxiety, like sleep issues or mood swings? Are you concerned about your child’s behaviors or decisions? Have they recently been in trouble at school or with the law? Perhaps your teenager’s academic performance is slipping, or they may have fallen into less than ideal social circumstances, whether that takes the form of isolating from friends or spending time with other kids who aren’t good influences. Maybe you are concerned because you suspect that your teen is beginning to abuse drugs or alcohol. Or you may be experiencing more conflict in the home, as your teenager becomes increasingly irritable, angry, and avoidant in spending time with the family. 

Your teen may struggle with hopelessness and an inability to focus or act as though no one could possibly understand what they are going through. As a parent, it is painful to see your child go through difficult periods of transitioning from adolescence to adulthood while trying to overcome the many challenges they face. 

Despite that these l transformations and complications are typical of adolescence, it is nevertheless important to make sure that your teenager is developing the coping mechanisms needed to manage their stress and emotions without turning to unhealthy behaviors. The therapy team at Focus Counseling is expertly trained and prepared to help your teen achieve happiness and reach their full potential. 

Most Teenagers Face Challenging Circumstances Transitioning From Adolescence To Adulthood

It is completely normal and healthy for adolescents to individuate from their parents as they develop into teenagers. Between the ages of 13 and 18, kids often struggle to find their place in the family unit, friend groups, team environments, and in their community at large. 

A sense of pressure emanates from a culture of social media and competition with peers to keep up with the crowd and excel in every facet of life. And when teens don’t know what to do about these pressures, they may end up channeling their frustration in unhealthy, and even harmful, ways. 

teenage boy standing in army green jacket on beach scratching his head in need of therapy for teens
 
Teen Counseling | Therapy for Teens

Eventually, they may begin to rebel against or react disproportionately to authority figures, creating conflict and tension, or, in some cases, abusing substances or breaking the law. This behavior can have long term ramifications on your child’s physical and mental health, and they can develop toxic coping mechanisms if disruptive behaviors or symptoms of anxiety and depression go unresolved. 

It’s common for teenagers to feel misunderstood by adults. And it is likely that, if your child is struggling, they want help but don’t know how to ask. They may lack the vocabulary to adequately express themselves, or they may not know which resources are available to them. If this is the case, it can be overwhelming to know how or where to begin finding help for your child. However, Focus Counseling makes it easy and accessible for your teen to get the therapy they need. 

 

Counseling Can Help Your Teen To Process Emotions That Lead To Disruptive Behaviors 

Our therapists and counselors aim to be flexible with your family as you seek counseling for your teen. We understand that it can be difficult for your family to navigate the individuation your teenager is undergoing and the challenges they face as a result. Therefore, we can offer counseling services at your home, at your child’s school, or with the convenience of online therapy. Our team will work with your family in negotiating solutions to the difficulties created by your teen’s behaviors. 

troubled teen sitting on a bed in need of teen counseling
 
teen boy sitting against lockers at school in need of therapy for teenagers

We will help your teenager find the language they need in order to voice their goals for therapy and their mental health in general. During the therapeutic process, we will hold space for both parent and teen so that each of you can be validated and heard without the escalation that might frequently occur inside the home. By providing an opportunity and support for you and your child alike to share your thoughts and feelings, counseling can benefit you with the unbiased perspective of an outsider, who is specifically trained in adolescent development. 

 

Using aspects of Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT), Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and other teen- or adolescent-specific materials, we will help your child learn to process and express their emotions in a healthy way. These therapeutic processes have the potential to help your teen feel more heard, less lonely, and better understood. During intake, you will meet with your child’s teen counselor to determine goals for therapy and provide a parental perspective on your child’s behaviors. Once your teen has completed the same process, we will build trust while working with them individually to identify the best course of action. As we increasingly address the core of the issue, maladaptive behaviors and symptoms will eventually diminish. 

teenager in counseling session
young girl sitting at computer waving at screen in a teen counseling session

In helping to normalize the challenges that your child is struggling to overcome, they will feel less alienated by their emotions and will respond more positively to their surroundings. We can provide techniques, skill sets, and materials to help your teen to develop the toolbox they need to reduce negative self-talk and heighten self-esteem. In time, your teen will learn how to appropriately voice their emotions in both a healthy and effective way that allows them to get their needs met. 

At Focus Counseling, we are prepared to meet your teen exactly where they are in the process of understanding themselves. If your teen is given an opportunity to feel heard, it will be possible for them to manage their emotions and distress and for you to live in harmony with your child again. 

 

Perhaps you are considering therapy for Teens but still have some concerns… 

  • We aim to make teen counseling services as accessible and easy to participate in as possible. As such, we are prepared to come to your house, see your teen at school, or meet wherever is convenient for you and your family (including in the context of online therapy). It’s important for your teenager to receive the support and guidance they need now so that they can manage their stress and emotions as they transition into adulthood.

  • This is completely normal; the idea of counseling can make a lot of teens feel uncomfortable. At Focus Counseling, we aim to foster a sense of empowerment and ownership in your teen during the therapeutic process. Without any hidden agendas or objectives, we are committed to understanding and validating exactly where your child is and what they are going through. We aim to foster a comfortable environment where trust is built and where your teenager can feel free to be honest and vulnerable. If this hasn’t been achieved over the course of a few sessions, or if your teen requires a better match for counseling services, we will validate the decisions they make moving forward.

  • In an effort to keep therapy affordable and accessible, we do accept a variety of insurance plans. Even if you happen to be out of network, we will still do our best to work with your insurance company so that you can get reimbursed if possible.

 

GIVE YOUR TEEN THE CHANCE TO FEEL EMPOWERED AND VALIDATED THROUGH TEEN COUNSELING

If your child is age 13 to 18 and struggling with symptoms of anxiety or depression or with behavioral issues at home and school, therapy at Focus Counseling can offer guidance and solutions. To schedule a free, 15-minute consultation, or to find out more about our counseling services, contact us or call (614) 489-8759 today.