Signs that Teen Counseling will Help Your Teenager

How can you as a parent do what is best for your teen when they go through periods where they clearly struggle with mental health issues? It is difficult to understand the type of help to give as teens seem to be going through so many changes related to growing up – their physical body is changing, they are learning to deal with their emotions, and there are mental changes caused by puberty.

So, how can you tell the difference between what is normal from a developmental point of view and what needs trained, professional support in the form of teen counseling?

Is this normal or do we need teen counseling?

Teenage years often feature many storms of emotion and outburst as teenagers experience this time of change as a period of vulnerability. Teens struggle with their shift in emotions, discovering who they are, a changing body, and changing how they relate to others.

During this time, parents may find that teenagers pull back and create a stormy atmosphere in the home and family.

Parents would have witnessed these types of transition periods before with their teens, first as babies, then toddlers, and later children. As an individual, your child goes through their own types of changes and their personality and home environment makes their experience unique.

With teens there is a level of uniformity as you deal with common issues such as hormone changes, valuing independence, showing interest in romantic relationships, spending more time with friends, and an increase in sensation-seeking tendencies, as well as considering future plans more thoughtfully.

Indicators when teen counseling may help

While reading through these indicators, parents should remember that some mental health problems show themselves during adolescence (between the ages of 10 and 19 years old) and some of the signs below show that a child is struggling.

Be on the lookout for how your child behaves – which can be made worse through the wrong type of exposure on social media. Keep in mind that issues related to self-harm or suicide need immediate professional attention.

Relationally pulling back from friends, or family, or both

The teenage years are often marked by sharing less with parents and being hesitant to provide the same level of information as before. This is normal. However, if your child pulls back from relationships with family that they used to enjoy, it may indicate issues relating to several types of events, including self-esteem, depression, trauma, or bullying. Teen counseling can help by offering a secure, impartial environment for teens to explore this further.

Lack of interest in regular activities

A reduced ability to experience pleasure is a regular symptom of depression. In teens, it can often be seen as a loss of interest in their passions and far less time being spent in activities that they previously enjoyed. This feeling, termed anhedonia, can also be accompanied by a feeling of futility and frustration.

Teen counseling helps teenagers to recognize these symptoms within themselves and determine how to approach them. Several coping skills and exercises to change thinking patterns can be taught and learned for managing well.

Motivation deflates to an all-time low

If your teen suddenly just does not care and shows a massively reduced level of motivation, this may be a sign of depression, anxiety, transitional stress, or substance abuse. The feeling of being overwhelmed to get your life back on track can be paralyzing. Teen therapy will help your teenager explore what is blocking their motivation and discover how to develop a roadmap to achieve their goals.

Simmering anger levels

If your teen is spending their time chronically angry, then it may be worthwhile to find out more. Anger is a normal emotion that everyone experiences. However, frustration is temporary, while chronic anger is a symptom of something unhealthy beneath the surface.

Other mental health conditions that can be linked to anger can include:

• ADHD
• Anxiety
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder)
• Stress
• Substance abuse

If there is a lot of explosive anger, especially the type that often requires intervention, this can lead to major trouble while navigating school as well as relationships. Being able to regulate and understand emotions is a key life skill that teen counseling is able to teach.

Drinking or drug use

It may be a parent’s worst nightmare to discover that their child is drinking or involved in drug abuse. While it is normal for teens to experiment and take higher risks than they would have previously, experimental use can lead to habitual use, and this can spiral very quickly into addiction.

Receiving a substance use assessment during teen counseling will help your teen navigate the various triggers and stress points they have. It also gives a good opportunity to discuss other treatment options that are available.

A change in eating habits

Adolescence can be a time when eating disorders emerge. If as a parent you notice significant weight changes, eating in secret, evidence of binge eating or purging (such as self-induced vomiting), unhelpful comments about their body, then be aware that your teen may be in the middle of a tough time. Teen counseling will be able to assist with recovery from this change and refer to a higher level of care if this is required.

Being extremely anxious and stressed

“No worries” may be an expression to indicate that things are going well, but in actual fact it is perfectly normal to experience a level of worry. The warning sign is when the worry becomes overriding and grows to become chronic anxiety. Anxiety disorders, PTSD, or having trouble matching up to the expectations of those around you can all bring about mental health problems that manifest as chronic anxiety.

Teens are often particularly stressed about situations linked to things such as a sporting or cultural performance, a significant test or exam, or social interactions. If their anxiety is unhealthy, teen counseling can help. Learning how to relax and think differently during times of anxiety can provide a series of very useful tools for your teen to access, during adolescence and throughout life.

Brushing up against the law and getting into trouble

Defying your parents is pretty normal teen behavior. However, parents can get worried when this extends to legal trouble. Sometimes teenagers get into legal trouble to gain attention or because of other issues in their life. Either way, a criminal record can have permanent consequences in someone’s life.

Teen therapy provides a productive environment where teenagers are guided to explore their motives for their behavior and learn different strategies to effectively cope with these motives in a healthy manner.

A complete refresh of their friends

Friends are often welcome in anyone’s life. But dropping all your old friends and moving to new friends within a short space of time can indicate there is an underlying issue. If some peer groups include bullying or unwelcome pressure, then changing a friendship circle can be a good move.

However, there are times when the new friends take part in self-destructive, high-risk, and sometimes unlawful behavior. A therapist is well placed to assess if there are any signs of potential distress.

Grief at a significant loss

Teenagers can be profoundly impacted by grief – this could be in the death of a dearly loved family member, or the break-up of a significant relationship. Some teens do open up to their families about their feelings, while others pull back and isolate themselves. Either way, teen counseling is designed to assist any teenager to process their grief and cope in way that leads them to make healthy choices.

Next steps

Are you looking for excellent, experienced, and professional teen counseling? If so, browse our online counselor directory or contact our office to schedule an appointment. We would be honored to walk with you on this journey.