(512) 983-1550
Therapy for Teens
You can see that your child is struggling.
Sometimes quietly. Sometimes by acting out. Either way, something is wrong.
You know your child, but you don’t know exactly what’s wrong. Maybe they will grow out of it. Or perhaps it will be the start of a bigger problem later.
What are they doing too much? Or what are they doing too little?
Either way, it needs to be addressed; giving them a person to talk to, a person to help them figure it out, and a chance to figure themselves out is one of a parent’s most important jobs.
How is my child my best friend one day but doesn’t want to be seen with me the next??
It’s not unusual. They are starting to learn to fly, which is exactly what you have spent all of your time and energy teaching them to do for the last 10-15 years. Your relationship has begun to change. That’s normal, but you need to realize and adjust to that (don’t worry… not too much). And also, know that they (even though they might not say it) still want you in the game with them.
I believe that high school is the most difficult time in a person’s life. As an adult, you know that there will be tougher issues to handle later on. Right now, though, they are dealing with many challenges (all at the same time!). They have little to no experience on how to handle any of them. The stress and difficulty can seem insurmountable to them.
It’s not always obvious what to do.
Let’s face it: Kids hide this stuff well. And I don’t believe it’s your fault as a parent.
I know your intentions are good. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this trying to help your child.
Often, the actions you are seeing are the way that your child is telling you something is wrong. Although usually destructive (and ultimately not productive), that action is usually not the problem.
Simply put, it can be like putting a band-aid on a deeper cut or infection. Yes, it will help, and it may even appear healed. But often, the real issue continues to live under the skin, and in this case, inside your child…
Their communication skills are just developing, and putting their feelings into words is not easy.
You know your child. I understand their language. Let’s do this work together to figure it out.
When it comes to the teen years, there is usually just a mismatch in communication, which we can repair.
Here’s how we’ll get you back on the same page with your teen…
I believe that every individual’s situation is different.
These kids are just learning a lot while not knowing as much as they think. But they can detect “BS” or someone who is hearing but not listening, or even worse, someone who is trying to put them in a box with classic psycho-babble and conspiring with their parents to “get them in line.”
Most kids don’t choose to be in therapy…
I don’t expect them to trust me and spill their guts on our first meeting. Trust takes time. Plus, not everyone (including adults!) has the words to explain how they are feeling. So, it’s unrealistic to expect that your high schooler could. But at first, it’s most important that we eliminate the fear, confusion, and resistance.
The problem is rarely what you think it is (what you see happening).
What you’re seeing is often a symptom or a “cry for help.” There is almost always something underlying that, and my job is to get to what that is.
A child or teen can misunderstand certain actions and events. Sometimes these things get misinterpreted by their quickly developing brains, causing a conflict of emotions that can continue to grow and fester internally, without them even realizing it. This, in turn, will appear in many areas in their lives and hold them back. We need to get there.
I appreciate your trusting me with your child.
This is a critical time in your child’s life. You have always been by their side.
But now, as the time comes for them to begin to separate, this is a critical time to let them have some space while still being in their lives. I respect and appreciate that you are allowing me to be part of that process.
My job is to get them talking… and then you two talking. Ultimately, I want them to know that when things don’t go right, they have someone who always believes in them and will be there for them.
They will soon be off to college, and we both know that not everything will go right. Whether it’s a failed test, a broken relationship, or something much worse, I want them to know that you will be there, and I want them to call you first.
We don’t want them to find non-productive coping mechanisms like drinking, drugs, sex, or disordered eating. That’ll only compound their problems.
In many cases, we only have limited time before they go off to college or leave the house to build those critical connections for the future.
Let me help your teen figure out who they are and what they want to be…
Whether it ends up being a big issue or a small one, taking this step can only help.
They’ll have another person in their lives, confirming what you have taught them in another way.
I’ll help them see how special they already are and what they will be as we increase and reinforce the communication skills between you.
Don’t wait until they are off to school and out of the house. If you have read this far, it is enough of a concern to call. I am here for you both.
Let’s talk today: (512) 983-1550. We can have a free conversation to see where we can go from here.