Do you need help?
Teenagers struggle with bullying, stress, sadness, grief, shame, guilt, and feeling overwhelmed about their future. It is normal when this happens occasionally, but this can be an indicator of mental health concerns if someone has consistent and severe emotional pain. Persistent feelings of being low and a sense of losing purpose in life can indicate that you or your adolescent need help.
My approach to adolescent counselling
My counseling for adolescents helps teenagers' self-regulate powerful emotions, improve their behaviours and their interactions with other people during this critical time of self-development. This empowers them to build better support networks in their lives. I draw a plan for your teenager to channel their feelings in a constructive, healthy ways and express powerful emotions and thoughts more directly to friends and family.
As a therapist, I will help your teenager address emotional difficulties related to depression, anxiety, drug abuse or other difficulties that are getting in the way of your emotional peace. I can also help understand your teenagers transition into adolescence and the challenges that have come with it. Over the years, I have followed the most evidence-based treatments that are tailored to explicitly help teenagers including: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Dialectical Behavioural Therapy and Family Therapy.
If your teenager is ready to reach out, he, she, they can book a session by sending me an email. If you would like to see if you think I am a good professional fit for your teenager, you can get a free 15-20-minute consultation to discuss their therapy needs in greater depths or create a direct introduction. During that time, we'll also know how comfortable we are with each other. This phone call is a good chance to break the ice and ask any questions that you or your teenager has been wanting to ask relating to the therapy process and my approach.
Background information on adolescent counselling
Adolescence is one of the most significant stages of human development. Young people are often faced with cognitive changes, identity shifts, relationships and psychological changes. Adolescence is often a difficult time requiring a lot of support and understanding from family members.
Why is adolescence a difficult time?
The adolescence stage involves teenagers experimenting with new behaviours, social roles and situations. This self-exploration establishes their adult identity, which separates them from their childhood self. During adolescence, rapid brain coupled with dramatic hormonal changes induces risk-taking behaviours in teenagers. With these changes afoot, parents will often notice key differences in their child's behaviour.
Possible behaviour changes include: anger, aggression and interpersonal conflict. Alternatively, teenagers can internalize their feelings, and this would manifest as sadness or withdrawal from family and friends. Whether aggression or withdrawal, both have the potential to lead to depression and anxiety.
How to know if your teenager needs help?
As soon as a child transitions into the stage of adolescence, hormonal activity induces rapid changes in the brain, specifically the pre-frontal cortex, exhibiting several new behaviours. During this process, self-consciousness, doubt and anxiety often surface.
Adolescence is a difficult time both in terms of cognitive changes and life changes. Thus, your teenager should be encouraged and supported through this transition period. My counselling allows your teenager to understand and manage their emotions and helps them develop a plan to navigate through the emotional difficulties, while improving self-confidence. I use evidence-based strategies to reduce anxiety by helping your teenager develop new thinking patterns. It brings a shift in how they process their new experiences.
Signs That Show Your Teenager Needs Adolescent Counselling
Friendship issues and bullying
Self-harm thoughts or actions
Family breakdown and conflict
Grief and loss
Depression and other mood disorders
School challenges