Is your teenager experiencing more than normal challenges?
As parents, we want our child’s teenage years to be filled with meaningful friendships, school achievement, ongoing development, and vibrant family relationships. Adolescence is an exciting time of growth and development. We delight in watching our child grow into the adult they will one day become.
But some teenagers go through difficult times. They may not form healthy friendships and they can refuse to perform in school. Troubled teens often shut out those closest to them, leaving parents and other family members feeling helpless.
Signs your teen may need therapy
If you have noticed a sudden change in how your teen is behaving or if their mood fluctuations have taken a downward spiral that is seemingly changing them into a different person, your child can benefit from professional help.
Below are symptoms that can indicate your teen will benefit from therapy.
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Difficulty making or keeping friends
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A sudden change in friends or the kind of people he or she is spending time with
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Doesn’t want to go to school or perform well in school
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Constant fighting with everyone in the house
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Refusing to go on family vacations
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Won’t talk to parents about what’s bothering them
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High levels of hostility towards family (yelling, screaming, sarcasm, cursing)
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Mood fluctuations
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Sleeping too much
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Symptoms of depression (crying a lot, irritability, hopelessness, low self-worth)
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In general, the child “seems different” you can’t connect with him or her anymore
If one or more of these symptoms describe you child, therapy is likely to help.
Therapy can be a bridge
Therapy can make a crucial difference for your teen when he or she is experiencing a time where extra support, guidance, and advice are needed.
Therapy is not an indication that something is wrong with your child. Therapy for your teenager can help your child develop valuable coping skills and tools that will help them bridge these crucial years and succeed as adults.
Teens and younger children act out in response to distress
Sometimes a child or teenager can express themselves with anger, hostility, and depression in response to a loss of an important relationship. Loss of a parent, sibling or other close relationships can have lasting effects and cause significant distress. Working with a therapist can help your teen process emotions and develop healthy ways to manage and grow from grief. Therapy can help adolescents break out of a pattern of destructive emotions and behaviors.
Children and teenagers can experience trauma that parents may or may not know about. The trauma can happen outside the home and outside of our control. Bullying, assault, or threats of violence can occur without your child telling you about it. If you suspect something has happened, it is important to get help for your child and ensure they are supported and not left to struggle on their own.
Teens also experience depression and anxiety
While it is normal for teens to experience mood changes and heightened emotional states (both positive and negative), ongoing sadness and irritability may indicate your teen is suffering from depression. Certain people have a higher risk of developing depression at any age. Temperament, heritability, and/or ongoing stress or significant loss can all increase the likelihood of depression in children and teens.
Teenagers can also experience anxiety at levels that interfere with normal functioning and cause significant distress. Fortunately, depression and anxiety are among the most treatable disorders. Evidence-based treatments that can make a substantial difference in how your child manages emotions such as worry and sadness. Learning coping skills and how to manage emotions will allow your child to learn how to better manage relationships, perform better in school, and reduce unhelpful negative thoughts, behaviors, and attitudes.
Individual and Family Therapy for Teens
In my practice, I use evidence-based treatment approaches that can help your teen learn how to navigate difficult emotions and cope with stress.
Therapy for teens can take place in individual or family sessions. In many cases, a combination of individual and family sessions is often effective. Often, when a teenager is having difficulties, the entire family benefits from therapy. This is because the family functions as our primary context and when one person is experiencing difficulties all others are affected. In the context of behavior problems and disrespect, it is essential for parents to understand what is driving their child’s behavior. The next step is to help parents develop a strategy of how to establish structure and set healthy and stable boundaries.
Parenthood is a journey and all children and teenagers have different needs and challenges. Expert help can help you better learn to manage behavior and provide an objective outside perspective on family functioning.
Dr. Elizabeth Weisinger is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Los Angeles. CA.If you would like to learn more, please schedule a free consultation appointment on my site.