Adolescence is a challenging time for teens and parents. Teens and adolescents in this generation are experiencing more complex issues and dynamics than we did growing up. With the convenience of cell phones and social media to stay in touch, teens find it exhausting and overwhelming to maintain their social media accounts while trying to focus in school, on homework and participate in routine activities at home. Peer pressure to keep up with friends and cyber bullying has become a daily, almost routinized issue that teens face multiple times a day. Additionally with more AP and IB classes available, teens are struggling to keep up with the amount of assigned homework they are given and with managing their stress levels.
As much as we want to support our kids through these experiences, teens often hold back from sharing due to fears of “getting in trouble,” losing privileges and wanting to “be strong” or not be impacted by these things. However the more that they hold in, the more anxiety, stress and depression they experience.
Reasons why enrolling your teen in therapy is a good idea:
- Many mental health disorders begin to surface during adolescence
- 1 in 5 youth is experiencing a mental health illness now
- Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in young people ages 10-24 (NAMI)
If your teen is experiencing any of these behaviors, therapy can help…
- Depressed, withdrawn, moody
- “Touchy” or easily set-off
- Frequent crying or keeping to self in room
- Asking to stay home from school
- Unable to detach from phone
- Intense anxiety or fear about a situation
- Lying or stealing
- Changes in grades from what is “average” for your teen
- Other unusual behavior or issue
Therapy is a life-saving and life-changing resource for your teen. Therapy can provide an outlet to share their experiences, learn tools and skills to get through what is troubling them and will teach them how to communicate better in ways that will more effectively get their needs met.