Teen Therapy
As a parent, you feel useless.
It seems like a change has come over your teenager. They stay in their room more often than before, have stopped socializing with their friends, have become sullen and non-responsive, and seem disconnected from the family.
They are either failing in school or are so anxious about being perfect in everything they do that they constantly worry. Their sleep schedule can fluctuate between hibernation or not sleeping, and they seem like ghosts in a world that excludes their parents.
“I miss who they were as children,” keeps running through your mind. They won’t let you help them become who they want to be. This child whom you nurtured through life is now a stranger to you, and it seems that whatever you attempt to reach them doesn’t work, and they drift further away.
The parenting skills you have used before are not working now. Your struggle is authentic, and it’s OK to admit it.
I understand your teenager.
I work with TEENS, specializing in trauma and fostering successful family relationships through empathy, resilience, and intrinsic motivation.
Bringing aspects of fun and laughter into my therapy sessions allows an authentic connection to the teen, allowing them to reveal their feelings, actions, thoughts, and behaviors and make them readily apparent and enjoyably.
I speak their language.
Teen speech can create trust between me and your teenager. Discussing topics that they talk about most often, such as Minecraft, volleyball, TikTok, Discord, D&D, Fortnite, Canva, plants vs. zombies, daily struggles of weather-appropriate outfits, and demands for Wingstop, Starbucks, and Chick-fil-A allows us to be on the same wavelength.
I understand their language and the acronyms they use – “good,” “fine,” and “I don’t know.” Speaking their language and understanding their analogies and metaphors is impactful, helping me understand how their brains work.
The bottom line is that I meet teens where they are instead of forcing them to learn my clinical language, which allows me to see their growth faster.
My approach meets them where they are.
We will use Strength-Based, Narrative, Art, Attachment-Based, Client-Centered, Gestalt, and Dialectical Behavior (DBT) Therapy – all proven methods for helping your teenager. Don’t worry, you don’t have to learn these!
You can be sure that during my sessions with your teenager, I will support them through their emotional and behavioral challenges. I’ll foster the trust and openness needed for healing and growth by creating a compassionate and safe environment.
Exploring their feelings gently while encouraging self-awareness and understanding can empower them to work through issues and make positive changes. It’s a beautiful way to guide them on their journey of growth.
Parents also receive support.
Many children benefit from integrating feedback from those in their path of influence. While my work with PARENTS is child focused, I also support parents, extended family members, teachers, and caregivers working together as a team.
Understanding the current roadblocks from a different perspective and using this new connection to adapt the focus will allow for a more straightforward conversation, effective communication, and agreement on what is expected.
Separate sessions with parents can help. Depending on the situation, they can be held occasionally or regularly. Sometimes, it takes a village.
The moment to act is now.
During the pandemic, I worked as a therapist in a school system helping students cope with the changes lockdowns and school closures brought into their lives. This experience gave me insight into how disruptions can impact a teenager’s life, especially if they attempt to navigate these challenges without support.
This time in your child’s life impacts their future well-being, and my role as their therapist is to provide them with support and guidance to help make their lives easier to navigate.
Let’s set up a complimentary 15-minute consultation with no obligation or pressure. We’ll discuss how we can help your teen return to a healthier, more positive place in their lives.