Therapy for Teens
Watching our young ones grow and change into teenagers is bittersweet. They’re starting to explore their independence and lean into finding themselves. This is such an exciting time of life, but for parents and teens alike, stressors can arise due to the changes happening.
Transitioning into the Teenage and Young Adult Years
The transitions that teenagers and young adults go through during adolescence seem endless. This makes sense, considering that humans change and evolve throughout their lives. But the intensity and speed of changes that happen between the ages of 12 and 20 can be very overwhelming.
With all the changes going on in your teen’s life, mental or emotional health concerns may become more clear. As teenagers enter puberty, they often become more interested in other relationships. This may include other friendships and dating relationships. As a result, they often tend to withdraw from the family unit and spend more time with their social groups. Teens are trying to figure out who they are and what they want from the many years ahead of them. During this time, they may feel intimidated to talk through it all with a parent. This is where a trusted teen therapist can step in and help.
Common Reasons Teens and Young Adults Come to Therapy
There is a whole spectrum of reasons teenagers and young adults seek therapy. This can include seeking treatment for a particular diagnosis. Or, your child may need some support while they navigate a challenging season of life. Sometimes they need help learning how their brains work best and how to set themselves up for success. At our San Francisco, CA therapy practice, a teen or young adult therapist can help. Our team offers a wide range of concerns in teens’ and young adults’ lives. Below you will find a list of reasons many of the teens and young adults at our practice seek our services.
Being Neurodivergent (Autistic, ADHDer, HSP) in a Neurotypical world
Feeling isolated, lonely, or misunderstood
Difficulty connecting with others
Identifying healthy relationships and social circles
Trouble focusing
Struggling to keep a job
Processing parts of their identity: racial, cultural, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status
Drug and alcohol use
Building executive functioning skills
Establishing healthy self-care routines
Balancing screen/social media time
Planning for future goals
COVID-19 related concerns and stressors
Our Approach to Young Adult Therapy and Therapy for Teens
All the therapists at our practice understand the importance of the client-therapist relationship. And our teen therapists especially know how important this is. The first step to helping your teen feel better is to help them feel heard, understood, and known on a deep level. Teens and young adults can be wary of therapists. They may be fearful that we’ll want to change or influence them in a certain way. Here, that’s not the case.
We want your teen or young adult to come into therapy feeling heard and accepted as they are. Our goal is to help teens and young adults establish healthy relationships with themselves including accepting themselves for who they are. And of course, we want to work through any diagnoses or situational stressors present. Our practice is Neurodivergent Affirming meaning we believe that ADHD and Autism are seen as normal varaitions in the brain. Working from this lens means we help your child recognize their strengths, and learn how best to care for themselves. Our hope for your child is that working with a teen or young adult therapist can help them establish a healthy relationship with themselves. Thus, leading them to build healthy relationships with others in their lives.
Begin Therapy for Teens in California
Our therapists believe that all people deserve support, whether in a calm or stormy time of life. For many young people, adolescence and young adulthood can fall into that stormy category. But, our teen and young adult therapists help your child weather the storm. Together, they can learn to become the best version of themselves. Your child deserves support as they navigate change in themselves and the world around them.
If your teen is ready to start teen therapy in person or online at our California-based counseling center, schedule a free 20-minute consultation call with us.
Other Therapy Services Offered at California Integrative Counseling Center
Our team understands that there are many factors that can have an effect on your mental health. This is why our professional counselors are happy to offer in-person and online therapy from our Bay Area therapy practice. Other mental health services offered include counseling for life transitions, support for ADHDers, and support groups for neurodivergent folx. We also offer couples therapy and career counseling. Feel free to learn more by visiting our blog today!