Teen Counseling
The journey through adolescence, bridging the divide between childhood and adulthood, can be similar to that of a roller coaster ride- a ride that should have a disclaimer: buckle your seatbelts– you are about to experience the rapidly changing extremes of your teen’s emotions. No, these emotions aren’t an exaggeration. They are a true reflection of how intensely they experience the world at this stage of life.
Fortunately, we have learned a lot about brain development in recent decades, and one thing that has become clear is that it isn’t just raging hormones causing changes in our teens. It’s also that their brain is going through a rapid period of development, and the limbic system (the emotional brain) is suddenly large and in charge. During this time, you will see an increase in the intensity of your teens’ feelings and a decrease in their ability to put the brakes on when responding to those feelings. Thus, parents can start feeling like they are walking on eggshells, not sure what might upset their once calm, easy-going pre-adolescent child.
“Adolescence is not a period of being “crazy” or “immature.” It is an essential time of emotional intensity, social engagement, and creativity.”
― Daniel J. Siegel, Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain
At the same time, your teen’s baseline level of dopamine (the feel-good brain chemical) has plummeted, which may lead to complaints of boredom. And to top things off, they get a huge boost of dopamine when they engage in anything super risky, so they are naturally drawn to high-risk, thrill-seeking activity. Did I mention you might want to buckle that seatbelt?
While it may be challenging to know how to help your teenager during these years, I can assure you that the ride can be made easier when teens and parents are armed with tools and support from an experienced clinician.
I have worked with teens and their parents for many years to:
Improve communication between parents and teens- Help teens manage anxiety
- Improve mood and impulsivity
- Teach healthy coping tools to manage stress
- Support parents during the teen years
Common issues include:
- Depression and anxiety
- Pressure to achieve
- Self-harm behaviors
- Friendship issues
- Being bullied
- Being a bully
- Defiance against authority
- Rule-breaking and risky behaviors
- Overuse of screens, online gaming, social media
If you would like to learn more about how I work with teens, please contact me. I offer a free 20-minute phone consultation.