Are you the parent of an adolescent or teen who struggles with behavioral setbacks, emotional distress, or not feeling accepted by their peers? Have you noticed symptoms of depression—such as mood swings, lack of motivation, or isolation from others—impacting your teen’s ability to foster connections and find fulfillment in life? Or are you concerned that high-pressure academic or social environments cause your child to feel anxious and distressed?
Maybe your adolescent or teenage child has expressed not feeling heard or seen at home, school, or elsewhere in their daily lives. They may struggle to identify or communicate their emotions, or perhaps their default emotional response has become shutting down or lashing out.
Perhaps you’ve noticed symptoms of depression creeping into your teen’s life. They may sleep too much or complain of not being able to sleep at all. As a result, they are likely sluggish and unmotivated on a daily basis. They may become agitated and irritable when confronted, have difficulty focusing, or perhaps they’ve become increasingly isolated from others. It’s possible that they have developed body-image issues or disordered eating patterns. You may also wonder if your teen has low or diminished self-confidence, self-esteem, or self-worth.
On the other hand, your teen may be struggling with anxiety. You might notice that they feel uncomfortable when meeting new people or fear new experiences. It could be that your teen’s anxiety has become so acute that they experience symptoms of a panic attack when triggered, such as a racing heart, trouble breathing, and excessive sweating.
Life at this age can be difficult. The world places so much expectation and pressure on adolescents and teens while at the same time forcing them to navigate the many personal, social, and hormonal transformations taking place. It can often feel like there is no safe refuge from feelings of stress and rejection that often accompany the milestones of growing up.
But in counseling, your teen can learn to identify and verbalize their emotions so that they can face the path ahead with confidence and optimism.
Depression And Anxiety Have Become Increasingly Common Among Teens
Given the many hurdles that teens have to navigate, it’s no wonder that anxiety and depression are common obstacles to this population’s mental health. Navigating life’s ups and downs can be hard at any age, but as adolescents begin the process of developing into who they are, certain emotional and cognitive symptoms can become particularly challenging.
Not to mention, today’s youth face unique obstacles in the process of maturation. Aside from the increasing pressure to achieve and compete, cultural factors have complicated many teens’ ability to thrive.
For instance, even with its many benefits, technology has introduced the world of social media and cyberbullying—instilling in today’s youth a toxic comparison culture that compromises healthy self-esteem. Moreover, particularly for adolescents, teens, and even younger children, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the course of their education and future on a global scale.
Despite these setbacks, there remains an expectation for this population to be resilient, successful, and always making progress. As a result, many teens struggling with mental health don’t seek the help they need out of fear of stigmatization or a self-imposed obligation to overcome challenges on their own. They may feel unsafe opening up or asking for help from the adults around them. And without knowing it, well-meaning parents, teachers, and coaches can add to the mounting pressure that teens feel on a daily basis.
Yet, there is a refuge in counseling where your teen can come and feel heard and accepted no matter where they are in life—and it exists at SafeSpace.
Therapy Gives Teens A Chance To Build A Trusted Connection That Can Help Clarify Their Strengths And Values
Life as a teenager does not allow for many opportunities to feel free of pressure and expectation. However, therapy offers a rare chance to come exactly as is—without fear of judgment. Whereas your teen is likely surrounded by adults (parents, teachers, coaches, etc.) who have agendas for their success, our therapist at SafeSpace, Deborah, is an independent entity who affords your child a chance to remove themselves from everyday life to help them feel more secure and comfortable in themselves.
Beginning with an intake, your teen’s therapist will ask specific questions to help them understand presenting symptoms, family dynamics, and goals for counseling. Depending on your child’s needs and comfort level, we may include you (as a parent or caregiver) in the intake process to offer any meaningful insight that can help to inform the therapist’s approach to treatment.
From there, the goal of therapy will be to foster a trusted therapist-client relationship with your child so they can feel safe to explore emotions, relationships, and challenges. Together with their therapist, your teen will begin to develop skills to enhance their self-awareness and communication.
At SafeSpace, Deborah draws from a wide range of methods to help inform our approach to teen counseling. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) gives clients a chance to reframe beliefs and self-perceptions more positively, while Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. In addition, psychoeducation may be used to help your teen understand their development and how certain challenges are affecting them on a psychological level.
We may also incorporate mindfulness, deep breathing, and relaxation techniques to help your child manage stressors. With all of these tools in mind, your teen will have a chance to cultivate healthy coping skills and increased confidence in their decisions.
At SafeSpace, Deborah has decades of combined experience guiding teens through the process of therapy. We understand your child’s unique place in their life, the tools they need to overcome adversity, and the skills required to be successful within their relationships both now and for the future ahead.
With therapy, your teen can begin their process of healing so they can clarify who they want to be and how to get there.
Having worked with teens for decades, Deborah understands that counseling is only effective if you—the teen—feel confident in the process. Your information is not shared with parents without your consent as Deborah aims to treat you as the client, establishing a trusted relationship where you can feel safe to come with any challenge or setback.
There are a few exceptions wherein Deborah would have to share information from therapy sessions. Those include any instances of disclosing intended harm to yourself or anyone else. Deborah will first try to help you communicate the safety concern with your parent, but if you are not comfortable, Deborah will share the information. She will, however, make sure you feel safe in the process and ensure that you are aware of our confidentiality practices before starting counseling.
It takes a lot to find an effective therapist—especially when it comes to working with teens. At SafeSpace, Deborah understands that your teen may have encountered setbacks or challenges with previous therapists or other interventions, but Deborah's personalized approach to therapy revolves around the client-clinician relationship itself. Deborah will tailor her approach so that the most effective methods can be used to help your child, adolescent, or teen.
Deborah will work to foster a strong relationship with your child so that they can feel comfortable to explore their experiences and emotions on the path to healing and newfound understanding. With the skills they nurture in counseling, your teen can develop effective emotion regulation, communication, and coping strategies that they can take with them for life.
Deborah understands that it can take a lot for teenagers to become vulnerable and comfortable with the idea of therapy. But Deborah is confident that when you can get your teen in the door for counseling, they will feel heard, seen, and supported—thus motivating them to keep coming back. Deborah creates a warm and inviting space where your teen can feel welcome to explore and understand their emotions, ultimately contributing to an enhanced sense of self-confidence and optimism for the future ahead.
Peace And Healing Are Possible For Your Teen
If your teen struggles with symptoms of anxiety, depression, or emotional stressors, therapy at SafeSpace can foster new awareness and increased self-esteem. To schedule an intake or to learn more about how we can help, please fill out a contact form or call (630) 551-8602.
Teen Counseling
Is Your Teen Battling With Despair, Feelings Of Overwhelm, Or Self-Doubt?