Therapy for Teens
Teens enjoy coming to a place where they can be heard, validated and experienced as themselves. Topics typically explored are:
School - pressures, attendance, motivation, irritations.
Family issues – worries and concerns.
Friends – issues with, peer influences, cultural influences.
Substances – use, abuse, dependence, work with school, probation, etc.
Addictions – whatever type, looking at it, dealing with it in a way that is healthy for teen
Moods – depression, stress, grief, anger, anxiety
Therapy for sensitive teens is integrated into counseling whenever and wherever the need arises. I use the term “sensitive” to describe a teen who has increased awareness to:
- others’ feelings
- noise – specific ones or too much
- space – lack of or too much of
- the need to be organized or for more time
- body sensations – fatigue, dizziness, localized body feelings, etc.
- light
Please note none of these increased sensitivities would be due to substance use, although sensitive teens might use substances to numb or dull some of what happens to them in order to prevent their psyches from what might feel as assaults on their senses. These are only some of the ways it may show up in your teen. Sensitivity may make your teen feel different. Please call if you believe your teen is sensitive in particular areas and needs help. Sensitivity may present itself as a “problem” when in reality it might not be a problem at all, but a gift.
Your teen is welcome to explore creativity in session including, for example, drawing, doodling, using music as self expression, or reading poetry and/or personal writings, if he or she chooses.
Therapy is often combined with psychoeducation to enable teens to make informed decisions about their lives. EMDR may be helpful. EMDR is a protocol to treat and heal trauma (large and small) and is endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association. Anger Management Training, either in groups or individual sessions may be scheduled as well.
Schedule a teen session.
