Therapy for Teens

Is your teenager experiencing significant stress of grappling with issues like anxiety, depression, questions of identity, body image concerns, self-harm, or other challenges? At Willow Mental Health, we are dedicated to establishing a secure and supportive environment where teenagers can access a range of resources to gain insight into their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, ultimately fostering positive transformation.

The adolescent years bring a blend of excitement, newfound independence, and a substantial dose of pressure. These years are marked by surging hormone levels that often make us feel emotionally turbulent. The academic expectations and the desire to fit in socially become more pronounced. The cumulative stress from these factors can have a significant impact on a teenager's mental health and overall sense of well-being.

Common Life Challenges Among Teens

Teens can often face some serious life challenges that impact their mental health and well-being.

• Loss - Loss can come in the form of a death of a loved one, including a pet, and it can also come in the form of parental separation or divorce. A loss also happens when a family moves to a new location and the teen must go to a new school.
• Stress - A little stress is normal in life and can even be motivating. But too much stress can cause burnout at any age. Many teens face tremendous amounts of stress to do well in school, hold down a job, and be accepted by their peers.
• Violence - Teens that are bullied at school or at home suffer, and are often alone. If not dealt with, the aftermath of violence can result in PTSD symptoms.

This is not an exhaustive list of reasons why a teen may want to speak with a therapist by any means. If you think your teen could benefit from therapy, please reach out to me.

What Are Some of the Best Types of Therapy for Teens?

There are three general types of therapy for teens experiencing mental health issues:

Individual Therapy

In these private, one-on-one sessions, a therapist will typically use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help the teen make a connection between their thoughts and feelings, as well as understand how these impact their behavior.

Group Therapy

Group therapy can be very effective because it allows teens to see how their peers handle their problems. Most groups have five to seven teens and one leader who will ask questions and guide the conversation.

Family Therapy

In this scenario, the teen would go to therapy with their parent(s) and sometimes even with siblings. This style of therapy can be very beneficial as it allows the family to communicate effectively and respectfully.

Which type of therapy will be best for the teen will be determined by a trained therapist. Often, he or she will use a combination of all three of these types of therapy.

If your teen is struggling right now and could benefit from therapy, please reach out to me.