Adolescent Psychotherapy

Parenting adolescents can be a roller coaster as they often behave in ways that baffle, concern, and even irritate their parents. With the onset of puberty, peer pressure, and mounting academic demands, adolescents regularly confront new challenges which they may feel ill-equipped to handle. While their troubling behavior can simply be a reaction to temporary stressors in their lives, some problems do not always resolve over time and may require professional help.

Some adolescents may struggle in school, experience trouble maintaining relationships, or have increasing conflicts with  parents. Some adolescents may be rebellious while others may appear withdrawn and suffer silently. They may be underperforming academically, have concentration challenges, worry excessively, become depressed, have emotional outbursts, or even begin to experiment with risky behaviors.    

Given adolescents need for privacy and autonomy and their general reluctance to let their parents help them with their problems, a unique approach to therapy is required.  Through a relationship with a therapist, adolescents can receive the emotional support they need from a neutral adult. The therapeutic process creates opportunities for teens to gain insight into their problems, develop more effective coping skills, and restore positive relationships with family and friends.

In addition to the independent work with adolescents,  a successful therapeutic outcome also hinges on periodic and transparent communication between the parents, the adolescent, and the therapist. This is truly a collaborative effort and an invaluable investment in your teen’s mental health.