Does It Seem As Though Your Teenager Or Young Adult Is Struggling With School, Relationships Or Difficult Life Experiences?

Have you noticed changes in your teenager’s attitude or behavior that might indicate that he or she is overwhelmed with sadness, stress or difficult social relationships? Perhaps you believe your teenager or young adult has been peer pressured into using drugs or abusing alcohol, and now you are worried he or she has developed a dangerous addiction. When you ask about his or her life, does your son or daughter seem to emotionally shut down, avoid your questions or act irritable? Do you wish you could help your child feel happier and calmer, while setting him or her up for success during these important developmental years?

The day-to-day life of a teenager or young adult can be very stressful. Your child may be overwhelmed with juggling his or her demanding schoolwork, a job and a social life, as well as other external and internal pressures telling him or her the right way to live or what paths he or she should follow. He or she may be afraid to think about the future because of the looming importance of upcoming life decisions, such as college choices, career paths and relationships. You may fear that he or she is turning to drugs and alcohol either as a result of peer pressure or to cope with worry, sadness and confusion. Even though you may offer your support and guidance, your son and daughter might refuse your attempts to connect. Maybe you feel unsure of how to nurture a supportive, loving and positive relationship with your child.

The Adolescent and Young Adult Years Are Notoriously Challenging

Most individuals face obstacles during their teenage and young adult years, such as social anxieties or new life experiences. To add to these struggles, the human mind does not fully mature until the mid-twenties. Before their minds are mature, individuals often seek out immediate pleasure without analyzing the potential consequences.

Pressures from media, local and national culture, friend groups and family members often cause young people to painstakingly question who they are, what the “right” decisions are and who they want to be. Recent evidence also suggests that social media may contribute to another level of pressure. Social media profiles often portray friends’ seemingly perfect lives, which – when compared to a young person’s reality – can be discouraging or anxiety-producing.

As a parent, it’s also very common to worry about your child’s well-being, whether he or she is still in high school or has already graduated from college. Regardless of your child’s life stage or individual struggles, you can help. There is hope for him or her to get on a positive track, develop tools to better cope with life’s challenges and live a rewarding life.

Teen Counseling Can Help Your Adolescent or Young Adult Develop Confidence And Life Skills

During safe, positive and comfortable teen counseling sessions, your son or daughter and I will work together to gain a better understanding of how he or she is struggling and set practical goals to improve his or her self-esteem and decision-making process. Looking back at your child’s past, we will also work to pinpoint where his or her feelings of sadness, worry and anger stem from. Then, I can help him or her recognize the effect of his or her experiences, as well as how to use this experience to create a new outlook on life.

During teen counseling sessions, I will utilize a number of personalized strategies and techniques to keep your child engaged in the healing process. We may incorporate activities, such as journaling, to help your teen or young adult dig deeper into his or her thought process and address pressing concerns. Together, we will also assess situations that might arise during the journey into adulthood and think through various decisions and their outcomes so that your child can develop better-rounded, thorough ideas about making important choices now and in the future.

In addition to my work with your child, I will also talk to you in order to help you establish a stronger, more open connection with your child. In order to create lasting change in your child’s life, it’s sometimes important for you to make changes as well, especially if you feel you are struggling to speak with or even really know your child. I can teach you innovative ways to communicate and be more informed about his or her current life. Once you can openly connect with your child, he or she will begin to look to you for guidance and support.

If your teenager struggles with addiction, we will all work together to assess the level of treatment he or she needs and develop a plan for sobriety. We will identify and address underlying pain and emotional triggers that may lead your teen to use. As your family and your child work through sessions, you will have the chance to strengthen your connection with him or her and become a positive resource in the recovery process.

As a therapist with 27 years of marriage, parenting and leadership experience, I have learned a lot about the young adult mind. In addition to raising two kids of my own, I am also a resource director for the nonprofit organization notMYkid, where I manage phone calls from parents, lead teen trainings, help teens in crisis and work with families to benefit their children.

It’s very understandable that you are concerned about your child’s well-being as he or she faces all of the difficulties of growing up and develops into a mature, well-rounded adult, with fears, hopes and dreams of his or her own. The good news is teen counseling offers the chance to get on a positive track, feel more confident and self-assured and look forward to a bright future.

You may believe that your teen or young adult can benefit from teen counseling, but you still have some questions and concerns…

I am worried about what our friends and family will think if my child attends teen counseling.

Our sessions are 100 percent confidential. Your privacy is very important to the therapy process. That said, if you and your child decide you would like to tell some of your close loved ones about your decision to seek counseling, it’s likely that they will be supportive and admire your child’s focus on a bright future. In addition, the progress your child makes during teen counseling sessions may also positively affect his or her relationships with loved ones.

Money is a concern for our family. Will teen counseling pay off?

While financial concerns are certainly understandable, the time and money spent on therapy are investments in your child’s short and long-term development. In fact, seeking teen counseling early may actually save your family the pain and pressure of your child’s potential struggles in the future. The life skills and innovative strategies he or she learns in therapy can help build a solid foundation for his or her success in the future.

We have a busy schedule. I don’t know if we can find the time for counseling.

I know how quickly a schedule can fill up when you are juggling a job, household duties and parenting responsibilities. Your child may also have limited time to spend on therapy. To accommodate your busy schedules, I offer flexible appointment options, including some time during nights and weekends.

Lay A Solid Foundation For Your Child During This Crucial Time

If you are ready to help your young adult gain a better understanding of his or her identity and live a confident and resilient life, I invite you to contact me for a 30-minute free phone consultation to discuss your child’s needs and how I can help. You can reach me at 602-549-4398 or contact me here.

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