Reasons to Consider Counseling for Your Teen

The teenage years are infamous and known to be a time fraught with challenges. At that time of life, a teen is changing rapidly, marked externally by various physical transformations as their bodies develop through puberty, as well as internal changes as they deal with raging hormones. This is accompanied by rapidly changing expectations of them and growing social pressures they face as they begin to transition toward adulthood.

It is not surprising that many teenagers struggle in this emotionally charged season of their lives, and for many, a little extra help could benefit them in the long run. The hormonal changes in these years make mood swings a common experience, and teenagers can face a variety of challenges at school and in the home. At times, these may become serious enough to need professional help.

Radical changes in your teenager’s behavior could also indicate that there are possibly other, more serious problems lurking below the surface. Therapy is not only necessary when dealing with traumatic experiences, but it can also be beneficial for learning skills and developing healthy coping mechanisms to help prevent smaller problems from spiraling out of control and becoming even bigger issues.

Some Reasons to Consider Counseling for Your Teen

There are many reasons that a parent or caregiver may consider help for their teen in the form of therapy. Whether to seek help from a mental health professional is informed by the seriousness of the issue, as well as practical considerations such as the cost of therapy.

Each parent or caregiver must do what’s best in their judgment, and it’s essential to remember that earlier intervention is preferable to delay. Some issues can worsen over time, so seeking help early is advisable. Speak with the school counselor, teachers, or your family doctor or health provider for assistance in discerning whether seeking further help would be beneficial. It’s better to err on the side of caution.

Some of the reasons that may lead a parent or caregiver to consider counseling or therapy for their teen include the following:

Behavior Problems A sudden or drastic change in your teenager’s behavior could indicate a deeper underlying problem that needs to be addressed. If your child is becoming overly defiant or aggressive, or even extremely withdrawn, it could foreshadow other problems. Even if there is no clearly risky behavior, counseling could help keep the important lines of communication open between you and your child.

If other problems begin to surface, such as lying, sneaking out, school suspensions, or aggressive behavior, they may be symptoms of more serious problems, and getting help early may help address concerns before they get out of control. Counseling can help uncover mental health issues that need treatment, skill deficits that need to be addressed, or social problems that could be underlying the behavior.

If your child is using substances like alcohol or drugs, a counselor can help assess the situation and determine how severe the problem is and what treatment options are appropriate. This includes whether individual therapy or group therapy would be sufficient, or whether a detox program or residential treatment is necessary to address the concerns.

Depression, Anxiety, or Mood Disorders While big emotions can be normal during the teenage years, if emotions like worry and sadness become too intense, they can interfere with other aspects of life, such as friendships and academics. Mood disorders often first start during the teen years, and if left untreated, they can last into adulthood.

Some signs to look out for in your teen include:

• They are overly irritable, sad, or withdrawn.
• They seem hopeless or feel guilty and worthless.
• They struggle to concentrate or remember things.
• They no longer enjoy things they used to.
• They express the desire to harm themselves.

Counseling could help identify deeper problems and appropriate treatments for them.

School and Social Issues Because much of a teenager’s days revolve around their school life and responsibilities, this can be the source of a wide variety of problems that a teenager may face. Whether their struggles are related to academic stress, teacher issues, bullying, or other social pressures, counseling can provide support and help them grow in communication and interpersonal skills, as well as in their ability to set healthy boundaries.

The pressure to keep up with schoolwork, achieve high scores on exams, and determine the path they wish to take after finishing school can put an incredible amount of stress on teenagers. Add in the pressures of trying to navigate social circles and find a sense of belonging, and school life can be a challenge for them to hurdle.

Therapy or counseling can help them to learn healthy stress management skills, as well as skills to cope well with the various issues they face at school and in their social circles.

Low Self-Esteem and Negative Thinking The teenage years are deeply formative. These are the years in which children begin to create an identity for themselves apart from their parents or caregivers. If your teenager is developing patterns of low self-esteem or negative thinking, addressing this early can help them avoid carrying these into adulthood.

If these patterns are not addressed, they can also lead to other problems, like academic struggles, eating disorders, substance abuse, and even the risk of self-harm or suicidal ideation.

While most teens struggle with confidence at some point, for some, self-esteem issues can be much more serious, as they may turn to negative coping mechanisms to deal with these feelings, such as self-harm or substance abuse. They may also engage in unhealthy romantic relationships to meet their felt needs.

Therapy can help boost their self-esteem and teach them resilience and healthy ways to cope with the pressures they feel.

Grief and Trauma As teenagers develop a greater sense of self-awareness, they may have trouble adjusting to changes in their lives. If they experience a major loss or traumatic event, it can be especially hard for them to cope and may have a lifelong impact on them.

Some teens may tend to bottle their grief, and this can cause trouble in the long run. Whether they are grieving the loss of a family member or the unexpected loss of a friend, counseling can help them to process the loss, to sort through their feelings, and find healthy ways of dealing with the pain.

Trauma can come in many forms for teenagers. Whether they experience violence, a near-death experience, sexual assault, or extreme bullying, trauma that is not dealt with will manifest in other problems like anxiety or depression. Early intervention and counseling can aid their recovery and allow them a space to process their feelings about the event.

Dealing with Their Identity Some teenagers may face challenges that the majority do not struggle with, such as living with a disability or a chronic health issue. Your teenager may be struggling with questions about their identity, confusion about their faith, sexuality, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Or perhaps they are dealing with incidents of discrimination. Counseling can provide a safe space to process these kinds of things, too.

The teenage years can be fraught with confusion. As they try to navigate their world and find their own identity apart from their parents, teenagers may turn to their peers, popular icons, and social media to try to figure out who they are in the world. Therapy or counseling may be a helpful tool in helping your teen navigate these pressures and mixed messages that they are receiving in this season of their life.

Exploring Options

Several situations and reasons could motivate you to seek counseling for your teen. If you see the symptoms and struggles mentioned above, consider talking with a counselor to explore the options available. With help, your teen can overcome difficult circumstances and get equipped to handle future challenges. Contact our office today to learn more.