Teen Therapy
Is Your Teen Experiencing Behavioral, Emotional, Or Developmental Roadblocks?
Are you the parent of a teen who has developed symptoms of anxiety, depression, grief, or behavioral issues?
Is a lack of healthy coping skills causing them to “act out,” lose their temper, or make poor decisions?
Have you tried to intervene but feel hopeless or frustrated by their response?
It’s hard being a teen! Whether your child struggles with social and academic pressures or has difficulties managing stress and emotions, you may not be able to discern when to intervene and when to let them handle issues on their own. You want to encourage their growth and independence, but you’re eager to help them become happier, healthier, and better able to handle life stressors.
Furthermore, you may wonder if your child’s setbacks are normal for their age or indicative of a deeper issue. Especially if your teen has encountered challenges with impulsivity, social skills, emotional intelligence, and/or learning difficulties, you may be curious if your teen is neurodivergent or experiencing developmental delays.
There are many factors influencing your teen’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and there are many solutions for helping them cope with challenges. Working with a therapist, your teen can boost their mood and self-esteem, which will inevitably improve their academic performance, relationships, and ability to cope. Through counseling at Broward Therapy Group, your teen can develop tools that will allow them to sustain a happy, healthy life.
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Adolescence Can Be An Emotionally Painful Period Of Life
While many mental health and behavioral issues arise in childhood, adolescence is a period of immense change. Unfortunately, symptoms related to mood disorders, learning disabilities, and neurodiversity are easily overlooked among teens, often written off as typical growing pains. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), however, “it is estimated that 1 in 7 (14 percent) 10- to 19-year-olds experience mental health conditions, yet these remain largely unrecognized and untreated.”
Mental health issues have always been common among teens, but the onset of Covid-19 led to a sharp increase in behavioral and emotional concerns among children and teens alike. The structural supports of in-person school and extracurricular activities were not available, and for many teens, the stress and grief of the pandemic was completely unprecedented. A lot of our community’s teens suffered in isolation, adversely impacting their academic and athletic performance and ability to socialize.
Regardless of environmental factors, the physical process of growing into adolescence can be exhausting. Frequent hormonal changes tend to greatly impact mood, and the drive toward individuation causes many teens to withdraw from parents, caregivers, and the other adults in their lives. Living in the tech age, our kids are able to escape and disconnect from their lives at home with the click of a button.
This makes intervening as a parent increasingly difficult. Not only is it hard to get our teens to unplug, but we also have to contend with our own pressures as we’re exposed to endless parenting advice and picture-perfect families on social media. Whereas it was easy to stay close and engaged with our kids when they were children, they may pull away in adolescence, further contributing to feelings of loss and disconnection within our families.
Oftentimes, teens don’t believe there is an adult in their lives who they can trust to accept them fully and unconditionally. Working with a therapist, your teen can enhance their coping and emotional awareness skills as they learn to communicate their needs, feelings, and ideas in a healthy, appropriate way.
Who Can Benefit From Teen Therapy?
Our therapists work with teens of all backgrounds and abilities. Your teen may be a strong candidate for counseling if they exhibit signs of:
Depression, anxiety, or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
School-related challenges
A lack of motivation
Withdrawal
Problems engaging with peers
Defiance
Perfectionistic tendencies
Difficulty regulating emotions
Disordered eating
Over- or under-sleeping
Physical symptoms like headaches and stomach aches with no known cause
Self-harm
In addition, as a neuro-affirming practice, we welcome teens who may have encountered challenges related to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or learning disabilities.
Working together with your child, we can enhance your teen’s competence and confidence.
Broward Therapy Group Offers A Safe Haven For Teens
As a parent of a teen, you are doing your best to cultivate a happy, healthy life for your child. However, sometimes teens just need a safe environment where they can safely process their experiences, explore their emotions, and clarify their identity without judgment. An empathetic yet neutral therapist can be the gateway to new self-understanding as your teen learns strategies for responding to life’s big questions and challenges.
What To Expect
When it comes to counseling for teens, we at Broward Therapy Group believe that connection is key. More than the modalities we use or skills we teach, facilitating a trusting, open relationship with your teen is essential to ensuring success in therapy. We’ll work to match your teen with the right counselor, tailoring the treatment process to their needs, strengths, and goals. Because we are a culturally aware, neuro-affirmative practice, we celebrate all perspectives and abilities—including teens who identify as LGBTQIA+ and nonbinary—propelling your teen to live authentically according to their unique values.
From there, our therapists will likely incorporate a wide range of evidence-based and creative approaches into counseling for teens. Such approaches might include behavioral therapies—like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—to help your teen address cognitive distortions and enhance distress tolerance. We may also include elements of Dr. Ross Greene’s Collaborative Problem Solving approach in treatment, as it enhances teens’ motivation to self-soothe and identify solutions independently.
Working with a therapist, your teen can learn to be more mindful of their emotions, values, and strengths. Using the skills they develop through counseling, your teen will be able to effectively address their symptoms and stress response, ultimately enhancing their physical, mental, and spiritual health. As they learn to effectively care for themselves and operate from a place of authenticity—instead of external pressure or low self-esteem—your teen’s behavioral changes will cast positive ripples into every area of their life.
Still Unsure If Counseling Can Benefit Your Teen?
My teen has tried therapy in the past and it didn’t work.
For teens, in particular, the counselor-client fit is key—not every therapist will be able to develop a trusted, productive relationship with your child. Personality, therapeutic style, training, and experience are big factors when determining the right teen therapist.
Fortunately, our therapists work to develop a connection with our teen clients right away. As clients begin to feel safe and affirmed in the therapeutic space, they will feel increasingly comfortable to share about their feelings and experiences.
Counseling can’t help my teen with their moods or behaviors.
We understand that right now, it might feel like your teen has built up walls that will never come down. If that’s the case, you are probably feeling hopeless that any meaningful change can take place.
As experts in adolescent development and teen psychology, we have effective strategies for helping your teen take down some of those walls. The more your child feels seen and understood in the counseling space, the more they will open themselves to growth and positive change, which will ultimately help restore your family’s equilibrium.
We can’t afford to send our teen to therapy.
Investing in your teen’s mental health is just as important as investing in their physical health. If your teen required treatment for a physical ailment, you probably wouldn’t consider the price tag or balk at an opportunity to offer them relief.
Therapy is not just a short-term quick fix; it’s a sustained investment that has the potential to dramatically improve your teen’s life and prepare them for challenges as they grow into adulthood. By learning to manage their stress level, emotions, and live according to their values, your teen can achieve optimal self-care, which is priceless.
In addition, note that if cost is still a concern, some of our therapists accept insurance, and we are happy to provide a superbill for out-of-network clients. Contact us to find out more.
We Can Support You In Raising Your Teen To Be A Healthy, Confident Adult
If your teen is neurodiverse, exhibiting unhealthy behaviors, or struggling with their mental health and identity, Broward Therapy Group offers counseling to adolescents of all backgrounds and abilities. To get started with one of our teen specialists, you can contact us to schedule a free consultation.
