Adolescent & Teen Therapy in Orange County.
Let’s face it — not all teens can work with any therapist
Adolescent & Teen Therapy
Some teens ask to be in therapy. And some teens do not. It can take a lot for a teen to be able to trust an adult. Think about where they’re at developmentally. It can feel like the whole world is judging them, whether it’s social media or peers at school or even their parents.
When it comes to working with teens, adolescents, and tweens, creating a safe space where they do not feel judged is essential. They need to feel like they can trust me as their therapist. It also helps if they feel like they can joke around with me, use teen lingo, and maybe even find me relatable. Once that relationship is established, the work can begin. Additionally, I offer my teens lots of trust and work hard to respect their privacy.
I love to talk with my teens. But I also think it’s important to be playful with teens. For the teens that are interested, we might go on walks together, do arts and crafts, or do activities together so that it is not always solely talk therapy.
When it comes to teens, it can sometimes also be appropriate for treatment to include parents for check-ins or to discuss parenting strategies. Often, these check-ins together can help a parent develop more empathy and a deeper understanding of their child.
Common Challenges in Teen Therapy
Common Challenges in Teen Therapy
Common Challenges
Life Transitions
Conflict
Emotion Regulation
Perfectionism
Self-esteem
Body Image
Identity
Stress Management
Relationship Issues
Indicators that Your Teen Might Need Teen Therapy
Difficulty with adjusting to recent life transitions such as attending starting high school, divorce, loss of a pet or best friend, etc.
Increase of conflict with parents and/or peers
Struggling with feelings of worry and anxiety as evidenced by increased nervousness, anxiety attacks, or thought spirals
Negative self-talk as evidenced by comments related to low self-esteem, body image, and/or self-worth
Distress related to achievements, academic performance, or high expectations placed on themselves
Difficulty with stress management related to school, extra curriculars, identity, etc.
Persistent feelings of sadness and/or guilt
Teenagers go through it.
I can help support and guide teens with identifying, processing, and ultimately managing all of life’s most stressful emotions and experiences. Reach out today!
