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Teen Counseling
Are You Worried About Your Teen’s Wellbeing?
Are you a struggling parent with an out-of-control teen? Does your teen show signs of depression, but you aren’t sure what you can do to help them be happy again? Are you concerned your teen is becoming isolated or has begun using drugs? You know teens sometimes become angry and just need to vent, but you may be worried this is a more serious problem.
As a teen, you may feel an increase in anxiety or depression as you try to navigate expectations and relationships at school and at home. Maybe you feel empty and alone, even when you’re with parents, friends, or your significant other.
As a parent, you may have noticed your teen’s grades are declining. Or perhaps they are becoming more irritable at home and at school. It may seem like you’ve tried everything to support your teen, but nothing seems to help. You know life is often difficult for teenagers, but how can you know if these are “normal” challenges or something more serious?
Many Teens Struggle With Stress, Anxiety, and Depression
Being a teenager is not easy. With the stress of life, school, relationships, and changing hormones, it’s common for teens to feel overwhelmed and unprepared. And without the right support systems in place, many teens turn to harmful behaviors, such as smoking, self-injury, drinking/drugs, or risky sexual behaviors in an effort to find relief.
When you see your teenager in pain, it can feel like you somehow failed as a parent. But the truth is that one in five adolescents (ages 9 to 17) have a diagnosable mental health condition that can impact their lives.* With the prefrontal cortex not fully developed until around age 25, it’s important to remember that despite how mature a teen may appear, stress impacts them more negatively in some areas than it would for an adult. Unfortunately, many young people never receive the treatment they need. And the longer you wait to seek professional support, the more difficult it may be to alleviate symptoms and get your happy teenager back.
Thankfully, working with a teen counselor can help your child find relief and foster healthier emotional and physical well-being.
Teen Counseling Can Help Your Child Thrive
Whether you are a teenager or the parent of a teen, sometimes we all need a little help. Therapy for teens provides a safe place where you can share your concerns (or just vent) without fear of judgment or criticism. Our trained clinicians can help your teen(s) navigate life with greater confidence and ease, regardless of the challenges they are facing.
At Peninsula Child & Family Services, we offer individual therapy, online counseling, and group sessions for struggling teens. One of the most important steps in helping your teen heal and grow is to ensure they have a safe space where they can feel comfortable expressing their needs and goals. And that starts with building a trusting relationship with their therapist. As such, we always ask your teen before inviting you, the parent, to join a session. And if they don’t want you to be present at first, we can meet separately to help you learn new ways to support your teen during their process.
We draw from evidence-based practices and modalities shown to help teens respond to a wide range of mental health concerns. For most teens, we generally rely on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which allows you to manage, understand, and prevent problematic actions, thoughts, and behaviors. Together, we’ll practice new strategies and techniques you can use to create a positive life for yourself and for your teen.
Regardless if you’re suffering from stress, trauma, anxiety, or grief over a loss of some kind, there is hope for healing. You do not have to struggle with this pain by yourself any longer.
Our clinicians have been helping individuals in Virginia recognize and overcome personal and professional challenges for years, and we’ve seen how important it is to work with a therapist who truly understands your needs and goals. With the right guidance and support, and with the flexibility telehealth offers, healing and personal growth are just a call away.
You may still have questions or concerns about teen counseling...
Is therapy right for me or my teen?
Absolutely! Therapy has a proven track record of helping people manage stress and overcome the problems that are holding them back. With a free consultation, you can ask all the questions you need to see if this is the right fit for you.
And if your teen isn’t interested in individual counseling, we also offer online therapy and group teen therapy sessions, both of which have been shown to be as effective as a traditional in-person treatment in helping troubled teens. In fact, research has shown that over 70 percent of teens improve with group sessions compared to other forms of therapy.**
What if I do not think it’s right for me?
If you feel that therapy is not right for you or your child, that is ultimately your choice as the parent. We are committed to supporting your teen, and what works for one young adult may not work for another.
Are sessions confidential?
Yes, unquestionably. Everything you or your teen tells us remains confidential. We proudly adhere to HIPAA-compliant regulations for both in-person therapy and online therapy. During sessions, you can be certain that most anything we discuss will remain private with only a few exceptions, such as posing an imminent threat to yourself/others, or if anything is said that makes your therapist believe a child may have been abused or neglected.
Don’t Wait To Start Improving Your Life
If you are ready to start working toward a more confident, peaceful life, we invite you to call us at (757) 977-0889 to schedule a free 10-minute consultation. You can also email us or visit our office in Hampton, Virginia.