Therapy for Teens

Teen Therapy

Are you concerned for your teen’s mental health?

Have you begun to notice a change in your teen’s behaviors or have seen signs that they may be anxious or depressed?

Are you worried that your teen may be struggling with low self-esteem or a lack of confidence?

Maybe your teen has anger outbursts and you feel that you are walking on eggshells.

You want to know how you can help your teen, but perhaps feel at your wit’s end and need additional support.

Teen Mental Health

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 20% of youth ages 13-18 have a mental health condition (2019). Many teens go without seeking or receiving therapy for mental health conditions, leading to challenges in young adulthood. Teens may specifically be struggling in this day and age due to pressures from social media, questioning their identity, or encountering big life changes. There are many external stressors that can cause teens to struggle with self-esteem or develop anxiety and depression.

It is common for teens to deal with the some of following issues:

  • Academic Challenges

  • Anger

  • Anxiety

  • Body-Image Issues

  • Depression

  • Irritability

  • Low Self-Esteem

  • Panic Attacks

  • Perfectionism

  • Social Anxiety

  • Strained Relationships with Family and Friends

Does My Teen Need Therapy?

Sometimes it can be hard to recognize mental health conditions in teens. Signs to look for may include:

  • Sleeping Problems (excessive sleeping/not being able to get out of bed)

  • Increased Mood Swings

  • Anger Outbursts

  • Difficulty with Friendships

  • Poor Grades

  • Teen Appears to “Shut Down” (may not talk as much when prompted)

  • Isolation, Pushing Friends and Family Away

  • Lack of Interest In Things They Used To Like

  • Lower Motivation

  • High-Risk Behaviors

  • Recent Life Change (personal breakup, parent’s divorce, moving)

Counseling for Teens

Therapy for teens can help to improve self-esteem, increase personal resilience, manage anxiety/depression, and repair strained relationships with family. At the beginning of therapy, the therapist will work to build trust with your teen by using rapport-building techniques of active listening, empathy, compassion, and validation. From there, the therapist will work with your teen to assess areas of distress, personal challenges, and/or past traumas. Therapists at High Rockies Counseling use strengths-based counseling techniques to help your teen identify personal strengths, interests, things that motivate them, and current coping skills. Throughout the therapy process, the therapist will be screening your teen for mental health symptoms using evidenced-based diagnostic tools and information. It is important to identify the root issue in order to form effective treatment methods for your teen.

In sessions, it is also common that the therapist may play games, draw/color, or listen to the teen’s favorite music. This can help your teen feel more comfortable talking about difficult subjects/emotions and can improve the therapeutic relationship. Some goals for your teen may include helping them learn and implement tools to increase their self-esteem and self-confidence, develop thriving relationships with peers and family, live with less anxiety/depression, and find clear direction in life.

The Parent’s Role In Therapy

As a parent, it is natural to feel concerned for your teen if you are seeking therapy for them. We ask that parents respect their teen’s confidentiality with their counselor. This is important so that your teen feels completely safe to open up with their therapist. If your teen believes that you will receive a detailed “report” from their therapist after each session about what is being discussed, your teen may not talk about necessary concerns or struggles. However, if your teen is disclosing information that causes the therapist concern for their safety, the therapist will discuss these concerns with you.

Getting Started With Therapy

Therapy for your teen can be a challenging step for each of you. It’s important to involve your teen in the search for a therapist, as finding a good fit of is crucial to a successful therapy experience. Please use the link below to fill out the Contact form, or feel free to call us at 719-239-0747 for any questions or to set up an appointment with a therapist for your teen.