Anxiety in teenagers can look different from kids and adults. It can be hard to notice it in teens because they are good at hiding their feelings, and symptoms can also vary from person to person. 

Some teens might hide their feelings while others lash out or act irritable. And oftentimes, anxiety can lead to depression.

Recognizing the signs of anxiety and depression in teenagers early can be the key to successful treatment. But anxiety and depression are not the only reasons teenagers might see a therapist.

Today we want to talk about several reasons why teenagers can benefit from therapy and what parents should know about teen counseling. 

Teens can benefit from meeting with a therapist to talk about many different topics from relationship and communication issues, to sexual identity, trauma, habits, and more. 

Your Therapist in Sugar Land gives some of the most common reasons teens go to therapy…

1. Anxiety and Depression. It’s normal for teens to worry sometimes, but when intense anxiety takes over it can interfere with many different aspects of their life. Mood disorders and depression can also be linked to anxiety and can start during the teen years. If left untreated, it can affect adulthood as well. If your child seems extra irritable, sad, and distanced, talk to your pediatrician. They can recommend treatment or accurately help diagnose the issue.

2. Behavioral problems. Aggressive behavior, suspension from school, curfew violations, and other behaviors can be addressed and helped with during therapy. These can be linked to mental health issues or social problems that are driving these behaviors.

3. Stress. Stress is common in high school but sometimes teenagers don’t know how to manage stress. The social pressures or pressure to perform well in school can be reasons teens can get easily stressed out. If your child needs help learning the skill to manage stress successfully, therapy can help.

4. Trauma. Trauma affects all genders, ages, demographics, and more. Things like car accidents, divorce, or other serious situations can have a lifelong impact on a teenager.

5. Grief. Just like trauma, grief doesn’t only strike in adulthood. Teens deal with the loss of a loved one or adult mentor differently than they might as an adult. Individual, family or group therapy can help them make sense of their loss and talk about their feelings. Learn more about how therapy heals when grief strikes.

Therapy can support your teenager through self-discovery, live events, stress, or mental health issues. It can help treat minor problems that could turn into bigger problems later on in life. 

And sometimes, even just a few therapy sessions can go a long way. Other common reasons teens seek counseling include:

• ADHD

• Autism

• Coping with chronic health issues

• Cultural or racial discrimination

• Eating disorders

• Body image, sexual orientation or gender identity struggles

• Loneliness 

• Personality disorders

• Relationship problems

• Self-harm or suicidal thoughts

• Substance abuse

• And more

Your Therapist in Sugar Land explains Teen Counseling and Treatment

Teen counseling can be a therapeutic approach specifically for teenagers to talk in a safe environment and express their feelings. It can be in the form of one-on-one talk therapy sessions or group therapy as well. There are several common therapy types for teenagers including:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT): often used for teens with anxiety, depression or trauma, CBT will help your teen identify harmful thought patterns and replace them with positive ones.

• Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT): DBT will help your teen take responsibility for and find healthy ways to cope with conflict and intense emotions. It is aimed for teens who might have a personality disorder, have depression or engage in self-harm.

• Family therapy: This includes one or more other members of the family. The goal is to improve relationships and communication.

• Interpersonal therapy (IPT): This is used with teens who suffer from depression. It focuses on a person’s relationships and how events affect emotions.

• Mentalization-based therapy (MBT): MBT helps teens who struggle with self-esteem find and strengthen their identity.

Your teen might be ready to meet with a therapist or they might be resistant. An easy way to help them prepare is to explain what a therapist does and how they can help them. Explain that a therapist will ask them about school, friends, family and other questions and that everything they say will be confidential.

You can reassure them that they don’t have to share anything they don’t feel comfortable with.

Some therapists will do an initial evaluation before prescribing a long-term therapy plan. Talk to your teen’s therapist and ask them how you and your teen can prepare.

For more information about teen therapy, or to find out if we are a good fit here at Southern Pine Counseling, give us a call today!