Therapy for Teens
During adolescence, teens commonly begin to seek independence and place more emphasis on their peer relationships. They have the difficult task of building their own identity as they try to figure out who they are and where they fit in social environments. While teens are on their quest for independence and identity, they may make choices about friends, their identity, their schoolwork, and other situations that create confusion and conflict within your family. At Pinellas Psychology Associates, we can partner with teens to feel independent without upsetting the entire family unit. We hope you’ll consider reaching out to schedule counseling for teens in St. Pete, FL and all of Tampa Bay, but if you’re still unsure therapy is the right option, keep reading or contact us to learn more.
When Is It Time To Make A Therapy Appointment For Your Teen?
Watching your child struggle, rebel, or make poor decisions can cause you to experience a great deal of anxiety, concern, frustration and fear. You may also experience sadness when your teen starts pulling away, gravitating towards friends instead of family. During this time, many families notice that communication strategies and routines that used to work for a child are no longer effective with their teen. The challenges of adolescence can be further compounded if your teen is also experiencing a mood disorder, behavioral problems, life stressors, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or a learning disability.
How We Plan To Help
Counseling can help your teen set and meet realistic goals, make better decisions, and gain an understanding of who they are and who they want to be. Your teen can also develop a better awareness about how their actions affect others, learn more effective ways to communicate, and deepen their ability for self-reflection and self-awareness.
If you are invested and committed to helping your adolescent grow and develop to become a healthy adult, teen counseling can be extremely effective. Dealing with issues now can help stop problems from getting worse and prevent new ones from developing. Therapists at Pinellas Psychology Associates will work with you, your teen, and if necessary, their school to find and implement creative and collaborative strategies to help your teen succeed. As a team, you will be able to overcome difficult issues, establish trust, and enable your teen to gain autonomy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy For Teens
We know that many parents have questions they need answered before they feel comfortable scheduling an appointment for their teen with one of our St. Pete therapists. Our team members or counselors would be happy to answer these questions when you call or during your intake session. We’ve also included the answers to a few of our frequently asked questions about therapy for teens in St. Pete below.
How Do I Know If It’s “Normal” Teenage Angst Or If Something Deeper Is Going On?
Almost all teenagers encounter insecurities, family conflict and a roller coaster of emotions to some degree during their adolescence. It’s normal to rebel a little, seek independence from mom and dad and place a lot of attention on friends and self-image. It’s uncommon, however, when behaviors become destructive. If your teen is severely struggling in one area of his or her life, or experiencing issues that are impacting his or her ability to function well within multiple areas (school, home, peer relationships), getting help now can be critical.
My Teenager Refuses To Go To Counseling-What Do I Do?
First, finding the right therapist is key, and your teen should be an integral part of that process. It’s important to find a therapist who specializes in teen counseling and who also is a good fit for your teen’s unique personality. You may let your teen know that he or she will be seeing a therapist – non-negotiable – but empower him or her with the opportunity to choose a clinician. Also, the initial meeting usually softens your teen’s resistance to therapy and helps them see their therapist as an ally, not a threat.