Therapy For Teens

Recognizing that your teenager is struggling can be challenging if they have not opened up about what’s going on. From our experience, here are some behavioral changes to look out for that suggest they need extra support:

Academic decline

Sudden drops in school performance, decreased motivation, or disinterest in previously enjoyed subjects can indicate struggles.

Social Isolation
If your teen becomes increasingly withdrawn, avoids social interactions with friends or family, or loses interest in previously enjoyed activities, it may be a sign of emotional distress.

Mood Swings
While moodiness is common in teenagers, extreme or prolonged mood swings, intense irritability, anger, or sadness may be signs of underlying issues.

Changes in Sleep Patterns
Significant changes in sleep, such as excessive sleeping or insomnia, can be related to emotional or mental health challenges.

Appetite Changes
Drastic changes in eating habits, significant weight loss or gain, or increased complaints about physical symptoms like stomachaches can be indicators of distress.

Loss of Interest
A sudden loss of interest in hobbies, extracurricular activities, or personal goals may be a sign of disengagement.

Lack of Self-Care
Neglecting personal hygiene, grooming, and daily routines may be a sign of depression or other struggles.

Reckless Behavior
Engaging in impulsive, risky behavior, such as dangerous driving or unprotected sex, could be indicative of emotional turmoil.

Express stress, overwhelmed, or worry

They might say something like, “I feel so overwhelmed lately” or “Everything is too much to handle.”

Comments about stress, excessive worry, or being unable to relax can be subtle indicators of emotional struggles.

They may say, “I’ve been feeling really down” or “I’m just not happy anymore.”

Social Isolation

If they mention feeling lonely or isolating themselves from friends or family, it could be a sign of emotional distress.

Changes in Sleep Patterns

Comments about difficulty falling asleep, frequent nightmares, or sleep disturbances can be hints of anxiety or other issues.

Worry About Relationships

They may express concerns about conflicts with friends or family, or difficulty connecting with others.

Comments about not feeling understood, especially by parents, can be an indication of the need for better communication or support.

Self-criticism

If they mention feeling like they’re not good enough, comparing themselves negatively to others, or feeling inadequate, it may indicate self-esteem issues.

Talk of Self-Harm

Statements like, “I sometimes think about hurting myself” should be taken seriously and may indicate a need for professional help.

Discussing Academic Struggles

Comments about failing grades, difficulty concentrating, or academic stress can be a sign of underlying issues.

Statements About Feeling Lost

Saying something like, “I don’t know who I am anymore” or “I don’t know where I fit in” suggests identity and self-esteem struggles.

Here are some tips on how to talk to your teen about the possibility of getting therapy for them:

1. Choose the right time and place. Talk to your teen when they are calm and relaxed, and when you have enough time to have a meaningful conversation. Avoid talking to them when they are tired, hungry, or stressed.
2. Start by expressing your love and concern. Let your teen know that you are talking to them because you love them and care about their well-being. Avoid sounding accusatory or judgmental.
3. Explain what therapy is. Let your teen know that therapy is a safe and confidential space where they can talk to a trained professional about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Explain that therapy can help them to cope with difficult emotions, develop healthy coping skills, and improve their overall mental health. Frame therapy as getting support, not as something being “wrong” with them. Reduce stigma.
4. Be honest and open. Be honest with your teen about your own experiences with therapy, if any. Let them know that therapy is not something to be ashamed of, and that it can be a very helpful tool for people of all ages. Highlight that many teens find therapy helpful and normalize mental health struggles. They’re not alone.
5. Listen to your teen’s concerns. Answer any questions that your teen may have about therapy. Be respectful of their feelings, even if they are hesitant or resistant to the idea. Suggest trying a few sessions to see if it’s a good fit. No long-term commitment yet.
6. Share your own therapy experiences if applicable. Model seeking help when needed.
7. Offer to help them find a therapist. If your teen is interested in getting therapy, offer to help them find a therapist who is a good fit for them. Provide multiple options so they can choose their own therapist. This gives them some control. 
8. Remain patient if they’re resistant. Leave the door open to revisit this when they’re more receptive. The most important thing is making therapy feel like a collaborative choice, not a punishment. With support, many teens even initiate and embrace therapy themselves.
    

Here are some signs that you’re making progress with therapy and benefiting:

• You feel genuinely understood, accepted and cared for by your therapist
• You open up more about personal struggles, feelings and experiences
• You have more insight into your emotions, triggers, relationships, etc.
• You can identify unhealthy patterns and work to change them
• You use healthy coping strategies discussed in sessions
• Your negative thought cycles and anxiety happen less frequently
• You feel more accepting of yourself
• Your relationships and communication improve
• You fight less with family and handle conflicts better
• You feel empowered to make healthy, informed choices

Everyone progresses at their own pace in therapy. There is no one right way to do it. If you are not sure whether you are making progress, talk to your therapist. They can help you to track your progress and identify areas where you are still struggling.

If you have out-of-network benefits, your insurance may be able to reimburse you for approximately 50%-80% of each session after the out-of-network deductible is met.

Out-of-network psychotherapy coverage varies by carrier and policy. It can be confusing, but we’re here to help! If you aren’t sure whether or not you have out-of-network benefits, we can check for you. Just email your insurance card and date of birth to info@imagineemotionalwellness.com 

Meeting consistently and stably on a weekly basis will help build safety and trust, which is essential for the work to progress on a deeper level. Biweekly sessions impact the effectiveness of therapy. 

Often, meeting less frequently results in a ‘catch up’ type of session and does not allow for the time, space, and emotional capacity needed to address what goes on beneath the surface.

Depending on the level of our work, there are also times when meeting two or more times a week is appropriate, and that will always come from us talking and making that decision together.

Therapy can last any time between a year to many more, as long as you are still progressing from our work. The length of therapy depends on what you want and need, and what you want/need can be fluid and dynamic. 

Healing and personal growth is not strict or predictable. You can start off by wanting to address something very specific (e.g. “I want to feel less anxious”), but through our work together could realize a deeper meaning to these anxious symptoms (e.g. “I feel anxious because I am terrified of intimacy” to “I’ve had very familiar experiences of being emotionally suffocated when I was close to people”). Realizing these deeper long-standing issues may then shape the focus and length of treatment. 

Regardless of why you are seeking therapy and how long you hope to be in treatment, it is important to remember that your thoughts and input are invaluable to me, and the pace and length of treatment will always be a collaborative discussion.

Anyone who wants a space to explore and discover more about themselves can benefit from therapy. If you’re unsure, try asking yourself these questions:

• Am I content with the way I live my life?
• Is the way I live myself and relate to others congruent with what I authentically value , feel, and want?
• Are there areas of my life or self-development that I feel stuck in?
• Have I been trying the same things over and over again to feel better, expecting different results, but still feeling stagnant?

You may not need to know the full answer to these questions to try a few sessions. Sometimes, mulling this over aloud with a therapist can help you sort out your thoughts and answers. That’s also part of the therapy process!

Here are 3 simple steps.