Therapy for Teens

Being a parent is TOUGH!

Being a parent of a teenager is even more challenging!

It’s tough just to be a teenager, much less parent one. You remember…

Acne, braces, never having the right brand name on your shoes/jeans/jackets, getting that special person to like you, having the right car, passing your classes….

Or do you?

In some ways, today’s teens share the same concerns, but today’s teens are facing stresses we never dreamed about.

They’re trying to survive in a digital world we never knew – a world fraught with new ways to judge, criticize, and shame them.

They are under so much pressure to achieve more than what was ever expected of us. College admission and scholarships seem so much more competitive than they used to be, not to mention the expenses.

Careers are changing much more rapidly, as well. Jobs we held as teens no longer even exist today.

So much anxiety. So much apprehension.

You try to connect with them and offer your help, but they just shut down.

Their cell phones have almost become vital organs – they’re always consumed by their screens. It’s really begun to worry you: “What are they dealing with that I know nothing about??”

You want to help them, but you don’t know how!

You’ve tried a 100 different ways of reaching them, but nothing seems to work.

Every time you try to connect, they push you away. You become frustrated; they push further.

You might even be frightened at the buildup of your own anger and resentment.

Things aren’t getting better, and you don’t want to wait until it’s too late.

Your teen doesn’t want to feel this way either.

When kids lose their connection with their parents, they’re lost. They don’t know what to do next.

While they may put on a brave face, they want – need – to know you care, even if you don’t know how to help.

You may not have all the answers, but you don’t have to.

That’s where I come in. Therapy can help.

Bringing them to therapy lets them know you’ll do anything for them.

It shows them that while you may not know it all, you do know what to do next.

What will therapy do?

For one thing, it can ease the cycle of anger and resentment.

In therapy, you and your teen are on the same team.

Therapy provides an emotional safe space – a place where it’s ok to share what’s really bothering them.

After settling in and becoming comfortable, they’ll begin to release their frustrations.

They want to make sense of their world.

They want to fit in.

And mostly, they want to be loved.

Therapy will help strengthen your family connection while allowing them to be themselves…

Without judgment. Without fear.

Rediscover the laughter. The play. The love.

Remember when the house was full of all those things?

The irrepressible smiles? The bear hugs? All your little one’s goofy, endearing quirks.

When you were the hero? You knew everything. You could do anything. You held absolute trust.

Despite time, pressure, changes, you’re both still there.

Therapy can help you find each other again.

If you and your teenager need to reconnect, call me at (918) 810-2588 today.