What Is Therapy For Teens?
Adolescence can be a challenging life stage. Teens deal with the physical changes of puberty, new social circles, changing schools, and a higher expectation of responsibility than previously awarded, with some seeking therapy. Many teens report feeling challenged mentally and emotionally as they become young adults. There are different stages of adolescence, and understanding the adolescent age range can be important to grasp the experiences of teens.
The adolescent age range is broken down into three phases, each having different challenges and goals. According to a 2021 statistical report, nearly 14% of teens aged 12-17 in the United States experienced a major depressive episode within one year of the report, and 40% of teens with depression reached out for support from a professional.
How therapy helps teens facing mental health challenges
If your teen is struggling with mental health challenges during the teenage years that are beginning to affect their life negatively, you may be wondering how you can best help them. Many parents worry about the problems their teenagers face such as excessive screen time, skipping school, or other destructive behaviors. In such situations, seeking help from a treatment provider can help develop healthy coping skills for teens, which can prove to be extremely important for their emotional well-being. Through working with a trained counselor or other mental health professionals, your teen can learn to identify and manage their difficult feelings and intense emotions, and carry these new coping skills with them into adulthood.
Should you enroll your teen in counseling?
It's important to recognize that different mental health approaches may affect individuals differently. As such, it may be up to you and your family whether teen counseling could be effective, but how do I know if my teenager needs counseling? According to recent research, teen therapy can provide a leg of support for troubled teenagers facing emotional reactions and stress during their teenage years. This is especially true when mental health treatment is combined with an effective support network of trusted adults and healthy coping mechanisms.
When should your child see a teen therapist?
The warning signs your teen should see a therapist can be personal and vary from individual to individual. You might consider teenage counseling if they require additional support that cannot be offered by friends, family members, a school counselor, or other existing support options. A more structured treatment plan for teen mental health conditions affecting their life may be found through therapy. However, therapy can benefit anyone; a teen without a mental health condition may also benefit from professional advice as they navigate family conflicts, overall mental well being, and life in general.
How talking with a therapist can benefit your child
Studies have found that offering mental health intervention programs like therapy to teenagers can help dissuade disruptive behavior, lessen affective symptoms of mood disorders like depression and anxiety, offer a constructive social skill-building environment, and allow for a stronger sense of personal well-being. These forms of mental health support via therapists can help teens have a safe place to open up about issues, including mental health problems, medication management, health, stress, and home life with a licensed therapist.
Discussing therapy for depression and anxiety with your teen
Discuss therapy options with your teen to see whether they believe it would be appropriate to begin treatment. For struggling adolescents, mental health services may be the best option to help them cope with their emotions in a healthy way. This can be a difficult conversation to have, but it is an important one that will help your teen in the long run; therapy can also be a good treatment for difficult symptoms your teen may be facing, like self harm or panic attacks. You may also discuss the idea with your child’s primary care physician; they're professionals and good for helping teens with anxiety.
Types of psychotherapy for teens
There are many types of therapy available for teens experiencing mental health challenges, including individual and group therapies.
Individual therapy
Individual therapy involves a one-on-one meeting with a mental health professional to address concerns and build strategies for managing mental health. Individual therapy services can address mental health problems and conditions like eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and other mental illnesses.
These therapies may benefit teenagers struggling with feeling insecure, embarrassed, or ashamed of their concerns. The environment of individual therapy may help them feel more comfortable and capable of addressing their mental health problems.
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)is a psychotherapeutic approach that targets behavioral problems by reorganizing patterns of thinking to be more constructive.
- Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) aims to help individuals achieve a better understanding of themselves and their emotions. DBT emphasizes personal responsibility and conflict resolution.
- Acceptance And Commitment Therapy (ACT)involves learning to accept your emotional state and addressing it in a healthy, positive way in the future.
To find a therapist that offers individual therapy for teens, search for “teen counseling in my area” or look through online directories.
Group counseling
Talking directly with others and engaging in positive self talk can be the most effective way for some teens to address their concerns. Group therapy, in particular, can be extremely beneficial for teens as it can make them feel less isolated and more supported as they address their mental health problem. Through talking with their peers, teens identify how to interact constructively with other teens and develop valuable communication skills, in addition to working through mental health concerns with licensed mental health professionals.
Group therapy sessions may be held within small groups of individuals guided by a professional through various exercises and discussions. These sessions for teenagers often focus on using group dynamics to explore and resolve various mental health concerns.
Some forms of group counseling can include:
- Family Therapy, which can be a transformative approach for the whole family, as each therapy session aims to build a more supportive and productive family dynamic.
- Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT),which focuses specifically on offering real-time coaching for parents and their children to establish positive interaction patterns.
- Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT), which may sometimes include two separate session environments, group and individual, to help build social skills and a sense of responsibility for one’s actions.
Online therapy for teens
I can't find teen counseling near me-- is there any other option? If you believe your teen would benefit from mental health resources such as therapy, there are many forms of therapy you can try. Online therapy can also be beneficial for teenagers or families struggling with scheduling or finding time to commute to in person visits. With internet-based treatment, you can stay connected to a counselor through video, phone, or live chat sessions. Additionally, you can message your counselor anytime, responding to challenges as they happen rather than delaying them until the next session.
How effective is online therapy?
Online therapy is on the rise in the modern world, and peer reviewed studies suggest that it can be as effective as in-person counterparts in treating various mental health conditions, including mood disorders like anxiety and depression, which are common among teenagers. It has been proven particularly effective for teens due to their familiarity with online platforms in general.
Benefits of online therapy for teens and parents
If your troubled teen is open to trying online counseling, they can sign up through an online platform like TeenCounseling with parental consent. In parenting teenagers, you would also benefit from counseling; platforms like BetterHelp offer appointments for adults and get to a growing database of licensed therapists. With affordable rates, you don’t have to worry about substantial therapy fees or fight for insurance coverage.
Takeaway
Adolescence can be a difficult period of life for many individuals. With a rapid change in physical, mental, emotional, and societal norms, teens may feel overwhelmed or challenged. If you feel your teen could use professional support, seeking a therapist matched to their needs might be valuable. If you suspect your teen may be experiencing a mental illness, early diagnosis via working with a therapist can be a way to minimize the impact of the illness on your child’s life. Don't hesitate to reach out and learn more about how therapy can help your teen cope with life's challenges and grow into a more confident, independent adult.
What type of therapy for teens is best for adolescents?
There are a variety of counseling services for people in their teen years depending on their needs. Teens can receive therapy services from therapists in own practice, community clinics, or school-based therapy programs. They can participate in group therapy or individual sessions. Online teen therapy can be really helpful for a teen who doesn’t have transportation or has a difficult time scheduling appointments because of a busy schedule. Some teens who see online therapists are BetterHelp or Talkspace users who use the Talkspace app. Family therapy with other family members can be helpful if family dynamics are difficult, but only if you feel that it would be safe. Therapy modalities for teens include dialectical behavior therapy, interpersonal therapy, or ACT sessions (acceptance and commitment therapy).
When should an adolescent consider teen therapy?
A teen should consider finding a therapist or teen mental health services if they are experiencing any sort of issue that they feel they could use support with. Issues can range in type and severity. They can include academic pressure, peer pressure, emotional challenges, substance abuse, trauma, depression, anxiety, or problematic relationships with family members, among others. A therapist can help teens understand themselves better, learn new skills, and gain new insights so that they can be happier, be more productive, and build healthier relationships.
What are the most common questions therapists ask?
When therapists are getting to know you, they might ask questions about your family unit, substance abuse, sexually transmitted disease control, self harm, stress levels, negative thoughts, or eating disorders so they know how to effectively treat you. They might also ask about your goals, interests, friendships and coping strategies. Once you’ve established a relationship with the therapist, they might ask questions about your feelings and thought processes.
What do people talk about in counseling?
People talk about a wide range of things in counseling, depending on the issues they are dealing with. They might talk about emotional issues such as anger, about job-, school- or relationship-based stress. They can talk about problem solving strategies and learn skills to help them cope with issues.
How much does teen therapy cost?
Teen therapy typically costs anywhere from $60 to $200 per hour. Online teen counseling with a platform like BetterHelp can be more affordable, and so can therapy from a community clinic or university clinic. You can also see if a therapist you want to see accepts insurance, and many insurance plans will pay for mental health services.
How do I go deeper in teen counseling?
You can go deeper in teen counseling by being vulnerable, sharing your true feelings, and telling your therapist what you want to discuss. If you feel like you are pushing to go deeper in therapy sessions and your therapist isn’t supporting you, it is okay to switch therapists.
How do you talk about hard things in teen therapy?
You might feel like it’s impossible to talk about hard things in therapy, especially if others in your life aren’t open to talking about them or if you’re not ready to admit them to yourself. However, therapists are used to talking about hard things with their clients. If you let your therapist know that you have a hard topic and are having a hard time bringing it up, they will know the right questions to ask.
What questions are asked in a mental health assessment?
Mental health assessments vary, depending on what they are trying to assess. They might ask questions about mental and physical symptoms you are experiencing, your mood and state of mind, your family history or dynamics, negative thought patterns, and if you are experiencing thoughts of self harm, among other things.
What type of therapist should I see for anxiety and depression?
A number of different types of therapists can support someone with anxiety and depression. That said, cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be highly effective for both anxiety and depression, so you can seek out a therapist who practices this modality. If you have severe anxiety and/or depression, you may also want to see a psychiatrist to discuss the possibility of getting medication that can help. Learning mindfulness practices from a therapist can also support you in overcoming your anxiety or depression. You can see an in-person therapist or an online therapist for anxiety or depression.
What should you talk about in counseling when you have nothing to discuss?
If you have no major issues or feelings that you want to discuss, simply tell the therapist what’s going on in your life, and you might find that you have things to work on in your daily life. You can also talk to your therapist about your dreams, your relationships with your friends and family, or your plans for the future.
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