Therapy for Teens
I want my teen to have someone they feel comfortable with.
I can’t seem to get my teen to talk to me.
I am worried about my teen and want them to get help.
Parents often feel confused when it comes to their teens. They aren’t sure when to press for more information and when to back off. Mental health can feel scary when it comes to teens but the best thing you can do for your teen is support them in the ways that they need. This might look like finding them a therapist to work with or doing family therapy together. Generally, teens don’t want to talk to their parents when they are struggling because they think they won’t understand or will try to relate to them in ways that feel minimizing rather than helpful. The avoidant and shut down behavior can be triggering for parents but this is an indicator that they want help.
What can I expect as a parent when my teen starts therapy?
At Space to Reflect, the goal is to build trust with your teen when working with a therapist. Once trust is built, therapists can help in a number of ways. Teens can explore their thoughts and feelings, develop coping strategies, and learn new skills to manage stressors in their lives. Teens can also build self-esteem and resilience, improve their communication skills, and learn how to maintain healthy relationships. We understand being a teenager is hard and we want to find ways to be supportive.
When should I consider therapy for my teen?
You should consider therapy for your teen if they are:
-struggling with anxiety or depression
-expecting to be perfect
- trouble with school (academic and social pressure)
-navigating racial identity
-dealing with a life transition (divorce in the family, death in the family, moving)
-struggling in their friendships and relationships
-having sibling conflict that is no longer manageable
How can I prepare my teen for therapy?
If you are planning to talk to your teen about therapy, include them in the process. Let them know that therapy is for everyone that people can greatly benefit from talking to someone who is not related to them. Include your teen in the process when finding a therapist. Let them be on phone consultations to ask questions as well. We want your teen to feel in control and part of the process just as much as you are.
We are an immigrant Family, can therapy help our teen?
Yes! If your teen is struggling with balancing two or more cultures or struggling to assimilate, you’ve come to the right practice. Our team of culturally sensitive therapists are aware of and have personally experienced growing up in two or more cultures.
Here are some specific areas therapists at Space to Reflect can offer support in:
- Addressing acculturation stress: stress that comes with adjusting to a new culture, language and environment. This could include navigating cultural differences, managing discrimination and prejudice, and finding a sense of belonging.
- Improving family relationships: addressing conflict, cultural differences, and misunderstandings to strengthen relationships between family members
- Addressing trauma: racial trauma and trauma from the migration experience
- Addressing mental health concerns: Because of the migration process, immigrants are at a higher risk of mental health problems due to stress, isolation and other challenges. Therapy can help teens address depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and other mental concerns