Are You Worried About Your Teen? 

Does your teen seem isolated, angry or overwhelmed? Perhaps you worry about your child staying up all night, his or her excessive computer use or engagement in potentially risky behavior. Do you receive calls from school about academic or behavioral problems or struggle to help your teen stay organized? Perhaps you worry that your child’s issues may be stemming from a larger problem, like ADHD, depression or anxiety. Or maybe your child is being bullied, and you don not know how to make the bullying of your teen stop. Is your teen questioning his or her sexual orientation or gender identification, and you worry your child may not feel loved and accepted for who they are? Do you want to form a closer relationship with your teen and provide him or her with the insight, guidance and support needed during this confusing and trying time? 
 
It can be frustrating and scary to watch your child suffer, especially if he or she has expressed suicidal thoughts, is abusing substances or has fallen far behind in school. If your child is struggling with issues related to bullying, anxiety or depression, he or she may be experiencing mood swings that seem out of control. These kinds of troubling emotional and social issues on top of the hectic school, work and extracurricular schedules many teens are expected to maintain, can lead to even more negative racing thoughts that fuel anxious and/or depressive cycles. As your teen becomes more impulsive, introverted, defiant or distracted, you may struggle more and more to relate, and worry that you are unable to provide your child with the help he or she needs.  

Teen Issues Are Very Common

If your teen is having trouble concentrating, engaging in relationships or feeling stable, he or she is not alone. While almost all teens struggle at times, many teens go through periods of time when they truly need extra help. According to the Center For Disease Control and Prevention, rates of teen ADHD, teen depression and teen anxiety are increasing, and these issues can be exacerbated by experiences of trauma, including physical or sexual abuse, a natural disaster, accidents, a medical problem or the loss of a parent or caregiver. 

When a teenager experiences a lack of safety, it is common for emotional and behavioral issues to surface. Racial discrimination or prejudice based on sexual orientation can also cause intense fear and dread within teens. Personal fears combined with the increasing pressure to perform well and juggle school with sports, extracurricular and social activities can overwhelm a teenager and sometimes cause him or her to shut down. If your son or daughter has been showing noticeable shifts in behavior, is suffering from low self-esteem or does not seem able to feel or function well, teen counseling can help. With the guidance and support of an empathic teen therapist, your child can experience immediate relief and develop effective coping tools that promote good physical and mental health now and in the future. 

Counseling For Teens Can Help Your Teen Overcome Challenges

In a compassionate, confidential therapy space, outside the stress of school, extracurricular activities and home, your teen can openly express concerns and receive effective support and guidance. We employ skills-based, experiential approaches, such as drawing, play therapy, exercise and more to help your son or daughter process any pain or distress and develop a deeper connection with his or herself. 

We provide a safe therapy environment and will work to relate to your teenager on his or her terms and in accordance with your child’s values and beliefs. You can expect us to be “real” with your teen as well as with you. We will work collaboratively with your teen to navigate triggers, thought patterns, emotions and beliefs that keep him or her feeling stuck. We will also develop specific ways to release that pent-up negative energy, and we will do regular check-ins to ensure your teen is engaged and benefiting from therapy. 

We understand both personally and professionally the struggles that teenagers with ADHD face. Teens often feel misunderstood by their peers and support system, but with understanding and guidance, your son or daughter can develop effective communication and coping skills, foster healthy relationships and become empowered to be his or her authentic self. When your teen is able to identify, understand and address what is fueling his or her unique problems, your child can overcome distress and feel balanced and empowered. 

You still may have questions or concerns about teen therapy… 

Is my child struggling because I am doing something wrong as a parent? 

The fact that you are seeking out help for your child proves you care deeply about his or her wellbeing. No one is a perfect parent, and we know you are doing the best you can. We also know that most parents want to see their children happy. Great parents look for help when they need it. If you are considering therapy, chances are you have already tried everything you can think of. The help of a teen counselor with extensive experience and training may assist in clarifying issues and help your teen develop techniques that promote long-term emotional stability. Your teen will be able to carefully navigate pain and become more comfortable being his or herself, which opens the door to happiness. 

These issues are stemming from bullying. How can therapy help with things that are beyond my control? 

Like you, we cannot be there to intervene when your child is the victim of bullying. However, we can provide your son or daughter with tools that strengthen self-esteem and better equip him or her to navigate uneasy environments or circumstances. In teen therapy sessions, your child will have the opportunity to work through the feelings of fear, anxiety and distress that keep him or her persistently down and on edge. As your child becomes increasingly more empowered, it is common for grades to improve, bonds with loved ones to strengthen and issues of being picked on to significantly decrease or disappear. 

My teen does not want to go to therapy.  

We encourage you to tell your teen that moving through this process and restoring stability (so they do not have to come to therapy) is the ultimate goal. Often, teens find that talking to a therapist is unlike talking to friends, parents or teachers. And, in many cases, teens report feeling at ease and empowered in identifying and resolving things that have been bothering them. 

Your Teen Can Heal And Be Empowered

If you are interested in teen counseling in Cary, NC, please call our office manager at 919-268-2182 to request a free 15-minute phone consultation. We are happy to answer any questions you have about our practice or how teen therapy can address your needs.