Teen Therapy
Does Your Teen Want To Feel Seen, Heard, And Accepted For Who They Are?
Are you witnessing your teen or preteen struggle to fit in and form friendships?
Have they been falling behind in school and neglecting their responsibilities?
As hard as it is to watch them struggle, do you feel at a loss to help them?
If you’re nodding along, you’re not alone. Many parents face these daunting scenarios with adolescents who battle anxiety, depression, or a shaky sense of self-worth. The distress they encounter might lead them down risky paths, like resorting to substance use. Alternatively, they could be retreating into solitude—disconnecting from loved ones and confining themselves to their room.
You're undoubtedly seeking solutions, and that's where a therapist specializing in working with teens comes into play. With their expertise, your teen can find ways to navigate these challenges and regain a sense of balance.
Social Media May Have Added An Extra Layer Of Stress To Your Teenager’s Life
When your teen scrolls through social media, they're likely bombarded with images of their peers revelling in joyful relationships and shared happy moments. The constant exposure to these curated snapshots of others' lives can stir up feelings of isolation and insecurity, casting them as the sole bystander of life's celebrations. Beneath the surface, a sense of not quite fitting in may be taking root.
However, there's a path forward.
Through counselling, your teen can find belonging and embrace acceptance and recognition for their authentic self. At Covey Wellness Centre, our purpose revolves around guiding teens and preteens toward enhancing their self-value, alleviating stress, and deepening connections both within themselves and with others.
Mental Health Is A Hot Topic Among Today’s Teens, As Many Of Them Are Struggling
Teenagers today are growing up in the “therapy” generation. They’re the generation that talks about mental health more than any other. This isn’t surprising—today’s teens are living in an increasingly stressful world. On top of the usual hormonal changes of adolescence, they have to deal with the pressures of social media, the aftermath of a global pandemic, and so many other stressors that previous generations didn’t have to face.
Above all, our digital culture has had a profound impact on the lives of teens. Online interactions have come to replace face-to-face interactions in so many areas of life. A lot of teens find themselves added on someone’s Instagram before they even meet in person. And in the wake of COVID-19, many teens have had to deal with the disconnection and isolation that comes with online learning.
All of these factors combine to make life lonely for kids in today’s world. And although they might turn to their friends for solace, teenage friendships are often fickle and unpredictable. What teens and preteens really need is a trustworthy and compassionate adult who understands mental health and knows how tough it is to grow up in today’s generation. That’s what therapy provides.
Counselling Gives Teens A Safe Space To Be Themselves And Get In Touch With Their Values
Let's be real: despite your earnest desire to support your teen, they might not be eager to share their deepest worries with you. The same goes for teachers, coaches, and other authoritative figures in their life. This is where therapy comes in, offering your teen a chance to talk to a dependable adult who is not an authority figure. Your teen’s therapist is there to listen to them without judgment and inspire them to find the answers within themselves.
In our view, the more important element of counselling lies in the relationship between the therapist and the teen. When teens feel acknowledged, heard, relied upon, and embraced, it becomes considerably simpler for them to open up and feel at ease while working through their emotions.
What To Expect In Teen Counselling Sessions
Counselling for your teen is your teen's journey. However, as long as you’re the one paying for your teen’s therapy, you need to be present for the first session. Following that, the rest of the counselling will be held with just your teen. This way, they have a safe, autonomous space to think out loud without fear of anyone knowing what they say.
Teen counselling is ultimately a journey of self-exploration. We want to help your teen get in touch with their values, gain new perspectives, and figure out what they want in relationships. After all, your teen probably has enough expectations from other people on their shoulders. Therapy is a chance to look at their expectations. It’s an opportunity to explore their needs, wants, strengths, and boundaries. This increased self-awareness will allow your teen to make decisions that are aligned with their goals and values.
Our Approach To Teen Therapy
At Covey Wellness Centre, we want to honour the uniqueness of each teen and come up with skills tailored to their situation. Our therapists often take a narrative approach to counselling with teens. Through a narrative approach, your teen can learn to reframe their story so that they view themselves in a more positive and empowering light.
Our practice also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help teens work through distorted thoughts and beliefs. CBT is especially helpful for teens with low self-esteem since it lets them take a closer look at automatic thoughts like “I should be healthier” or “I should have more friends.” By challenging how they think, your teen can avoid catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, and other negative thinking tendencies.
No matter which approach works best for your teen, we’re confident that we can help them play to their strengths, increase their sense of empowerment, and gain the skills to weather this challenging time of life
What If You Have Concerns About Teenage Therapy…
My teen is worried about privacy.
What your teen shares in therapy stays in therapy. Initially, we communicate with parents to get things set up, but after that, your teen is in complete control over their own healing process. In the event of a safety issue, we would let your teen know that we’ll be notifying their safe person. This way, they are involved in all communication regarding their treatment.
What if my teen doesn’t like their counsellor?
Our process is very flexible—our most important priority is helping your teen find a therapist who’s a good fit for them. We encourage all clients to try a minimum of three sessions with their therapist as that’s usually enough time to figure out if they have a good connection.
Additionally, you and your teen have the opportunity to give lots of information upfront during the intake process. This allows us to figure out which counsellor would be the best match for your teen.
What will counselling sessions actually look like?
Your teenager controls the pacing of sessions and gets to decide what to work on. If they’re not sure what to talk about, their therapist can prompt them with question cards, worksheets, and other activities. There is no pressure for them to know ahead of time what to share. Their therapist will open the conversation and help them figure it out as they go along.
Your Teen Deserves To Experience Belonging
If they’re struggling to find acceptance, then our teen therapists will accept them unconditionally and make them feel appreciated for who they are. To connect with us, you can use the contact form or call 249-888-7955.
