Therapy For Teens
teenage therapists
teenage therapist
therapy teenager
therapists for teens
It's hard to watch your teen grapple with emotional and psychological challenges.
As a caregiver and/or parent, you naturally care deeply about your child’s well-being, happiness, and future. When you see your teenager facing challenges, it’s a bit like riding an emotional rollercoaster.
You worry more than your teen likely knows. You want the best for them, but you also want to respect their growing independence. Finding the right balance between guidance and allowing them to navigate their own path can be tricky. Parents and caregivers sometimes get an unfair reputation for being disconnected from their teen’s struggles, but the reality is often quite different.
Most are deeply involved in their teen's lives, but it can be difficult to understand what's truly happening beneath the surface.
It’s not uncommon to feel helpless or unsure about how to help. We recognize these complex emotions and the unique challenges faced when your teenager is in distress. We understand that when one member of the family is struggling, it affects everyone.
we can help your teenager navigate their struggles
We skillfully work with teenagers who struggle with
We also help teenagers navigate the emotional terrains of
preparing for college
disagreements with family
developing healthy friendships and peer relationships
figuring out their racial and cultural identity
dating
exploring their sexuality and/or gender identity
We support and guide teens who are dealing with issues like
teenage therapists
teenage therapist
therapy teenager
therapists for teens
Give your teenager the gift of therapy.
How our therapists can help your teen
First, we connect with your teenager
Teen years can be an emotional rollercoaster. It’s common for teens to feel overwhelmed by intense feelings that seem impossible to manage. When this happens, teens may cope in concerning ways like lashing out, self-isolating, self-harming, or compulsively seek comfort in social media, games, or even substances.
Even teens from loving homes can struggle to handle big emotions constructively. The most important part in helping a teenager through this phase is connecting them with a therapist they can open up to about their emotional struggles. We know how to build strong bonds with teenagers so they feel safe being vulnerable. Teens need a therapist they can trust with the hard stuff. They need confidence we won’t betray their trust or judge them.
Then comes the work of therapy
- We provide a judgement-free space for teens to unpack and process painful emotions like anger, sadness, anxiety, shame, etc
- We guide teens to identify triggers and patterns around big feelings so they can catch them early before reaching a boiling point
- We help teens develop coping strategies to calm the nervous system when emotions feel overwhelming
- The process of therapy helps teens improve their verbal communication by articulating their thoughts and feelings clearly, using appropriate vocabulary, and minimizing misunderstandings
- We help teens develop interpersonal and communication skills to express feelings appropriately, manage conflicts, and ask for help when needed
- We guide teens in setting and maintaining personal boundaries in their relationships. Teenagers can learn to express their needs, thoughts, and feelings in a clear and assertive manner. This is important for healthy boundaries and effective communication
- We support teens in better understanding their emotions through questioning, reflection and discussion
- We help teens identify patterns of thinking and feeling that keep them stuck in negative cycles
- We guide teens in better understanding their skills, values and purpose to improve self-compassion and strengthen decision-making
- We help teens identify anxieties and emotions around life adjustments such as relocation or leaving home for college
- We create a space for teens to process emotions around new family dynamics related to separation, divorces, blended families
- We guide teens in processing past experiences that are affecting them now -- such as losses, bullying, trauma, neglect, intergenerational trauma and discrimination
Schedule a free 15 minute phone consult here
Prioritize your mental health and self-care from the comfort of your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
about 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Share your own therapy experiences if applicable. Model seeking help when needed.
- 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.
- 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.
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