Signs Your Teen Might Need Counseling

By Alicia Lord, MA LPC

The reality about therapy is that most people wait until things are really hard before they seek support. And with tweens and teenagers, it’s so hard to know what is just “teenage angst” and what is a challenge that requires therapeutic treatment. Honestly, both may be true simultaneously. Just because it’s normal for a teen to experience levels of anxiety and depression doesn’t mean they can always handle it on their own. With all the changes (both internally and in the world around them) between the ages of 10 and 19, having a trusted therapist can be a huge benefit.

Here are some topics and challenges that we often explore with our teen clients:

Anxiety

Depression

Suicidal ideation

Bullying

Peer difficulties

Relationships

Difficulties with school/grades

Lying

Risky behaviors

Major life events and transitions

Loss

Divorce

Sibling challenges

Defiance

Acting out

Depending on their age and their emotional processing skills, some teens may be able to advocate for themselves and request a therapist, and some may not. Some may be really invested in their process, and some may experience high levels of resistance around therapy. All of these various experiences are normal, and we have the skills to handle whatever way your teen shows up.

If you have questions about these topics or want to learn more about therapy services for your teen, feel free to reach out today for your free 30-minute consultation.