Aren’t you relieved? You didn’t have the deal with all the pressure teens face now, when you were growing up. Yet as a parent, you probably still experience it somewhat. You can’t help empathizing with your teen.
Navigating the world is challenging enough for those of us whose brains are fully developed, and teens – caught in the tricky intersection between childhood and adulthood – have it especially rough.
The teenage years come with a lot of stress and confusion. There’s an unsaid (and sometimes said outright) expectation: teens are supposed to know and commit to what they’re going to do with the rest of their life – no pressure.
Worries about getting into college and not falling behind on high school assignments get intermingled with social media. There’s covert – and sometimes blatantly overt – messaging about what’s “acceptable” as far as looks and body type, and what’s not.
It’s hard to establish a toehold when the ground is constantly shifting.
As a parent, how can you best support your teenager? What rules should be imposed? What type of structure should be implemented to keep them safe, while allowing enough room for them to express their individuality? How much freedom is enough to explore the challenges and changes of growing up in a healthy manner?
Therapy Can Help
If your teen is depressed, anxious, cutting, withdrawn, exhibiting defiant and reckless behavior or other types of dangerous self-destructive tendencies, those are all huge indications that they NEED therapy. If your teen is starting to go down this path do an online search for ‘therapist near me,’ or speak with their doctor. Get them in treatment, ASAP.
But what about the more nebulous, less apparent symptoms? Things that don’t seem terribly detrimental or crippling in the moment, but may grow into something further on?
There’s no shortage of messages that get woven into the fabric of our behavior; who we are and how we exist in the world. As you got older, perhaps you realized things that subconsciously held you back. Limiting beliefs you clung to for years – maybe an over-reliance on external validation as a means to gauge self-worth.
Many wish they had therapy earlier in life, as it would have nudged them toward their truth earlier on. Saved years of heartache.
You know your teen. You know what’s normal, and any signs of struggling can be a good indicator they could benefit from the help of an expert.
If your teen:
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Has trouble handling stress or seems generally overwhelmed
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Has experienced a particularly challenging event
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Has trouble with emotional regulation
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Has trouble communicating or even connecting to their wants and needs
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Has little to no self-confidence
Those are all good indicators they could benefit from speaking to a therapist. We offer counseling in Fair Oaks, CA. Again, if you’re not local, search counseling near me to find a specialist who can help.
Benefits of Therapy in the Teen Years
If you have a feeling there’s something going on that could use the insight and care of an expert in the field, therapy is an excellent way to set your teen up for success. It equips them with the necessary tools and insight to bounce back faster from bumps and bruises, and teaches them not become overly reliant on the world to tell them who they should be.
One of the most powerful things about attending therapy in the teenage years is the brain is still forming. Teens are at the cusp of adulthood; they get a taste of what it means to be accountable and reliable as they prepare for college and beyond. They’re not totally out on their own yet – they’re still being taken care of. Working with a therapist gives them the tools early on to work through some of these challenges. These coping strategies get hardwired, which means that they’re less likely to use destructive ways of coping – such as alcohol or excessive shopping – and they don’t have to go through the unlearning of a bad coping mechanism while trying to implement a new one.
Working with a trusted adult who’s studied human behavior gives your teen someone else to talk to. Another adult besides their parent who understands the world, and can help them see the bigger picture. Additionally, if you’re unsure about boundaries, rules, and appropriate structure and ways of holding your teen accountable, a therapist can help you build the framework that keeps your teen safe, while also allowing enough room for them to grow and explore.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there are resources that can help.
Feel free to reach out to us, our therapists are happy to chat, and share ways we can help. We offer teen therapy in Fair Oaks, CA and would love to work with yours.
Begin Teen Therapy in the Sacramento Area:
If you’ve been concerned about your child’s mental health and behavior, then getting help from a compassionate teen therapist may be the support you’ve been looking for. We will be an ally for your teen and help them navigate the challenges of adolescence. To begin counseling in Fair Oaks, CA, Roseville, CA or online, follow these steps
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Contact the Relationship Therapy Center and schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation to learn more about in-person or online teen therapy
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Make an appointment for your teen to meet with one of our compassionate teen therapists
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Get the support your teen needs to navigate adolescent challenges with confidence!
Other Counseling Services offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:
In addition to teen therapy, Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples services include: Couples Counseling, Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Our individual therapy services include anxiety treatment, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, codependency counseling and individual relationship counseling. Our therapists offer online counseling in California to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Please reach out to our Sacramento area therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you or your loved ones.