Therapy for Teens & Adolescents
We’ll start with a word to the parents. As adults, it’s tough to remember just how challenging it was to be a teenager. Looking back on that time through adult eyes, it may seem simple, but when you’re going through it, there is a lot to work through. Now a word for the young people. We know you’re going through a lot right now. You’re expected to be responsible and knowledgeable, but you really don’t have much control over anything around you. You’re developing feelings and desires for relationships and life, but it’s not really your choice yet what you do. You want to be yourself, but you also want to be accepted by your friends. Every day a new challenge seems to present itself, and you’re just expected to navigate all of it. We get it.
Therapy may seem like a drastic step, but it can actually help you feel better and manage all life’s challenges more easily. On this page, you can learn more about what to expect from therapy for teens with our trusted therapists.
Benefits of Therapy for Teens
Some of the many reasons therapy is beneficial for teens include:
Mood disorders – struggling with mood disorders like anxiety and depression can make it difficult for teens to manage all aspects of their daily lives. Therapy can help teens develop skills to better manage disordered mood.
Difficulty at school – academic or behavioral challenges that negatively impact teens can often be alleviated through therapy.
Low self-esteem – comparing themselves to others and striving to be popular and look and act just right can make daily life difficult for teens and lead to low self-esteem and poor body image. Therapy can help improve a teen’s sense of self-worth.
Relationships – friendships, romance, and familial relationships can all be difficult for teens, but therapy can help them develop skills to build healthy, lasting relationships of all kinds.
Exploring sexual and gender identity – the teen years are when many people start to explore themselves, including sexuality and gender identity. Teens who are struggling to come to terms with these parts of themselves may benefit from therapy.
Life transitions – navigating difficult life transitions can be challenging. From choosing a college or a career to leaving home for the first time, a lot of changes happen during the teenage years that can be overwhelming. Therapy gives teens the resources to navigate even the most difficult life transitions.
Family issues – divorcing parents, sibling rivalry, death of loved ones, and other issues within their families can leave teens struggling, but therapy is an ideal way to improve familial bonds.
Self-harm – teenagers may engage in self-harm as a coping mechanism to manage pain or difficult emotions. Therapy can teach them healthier coping skills for mood disorders and other experiences that trigger self-harm.
What Happens During Therapy?
Teens should think of therapy as a conversation. You’re just talking to someone who understands what you’re going through and who can help you develop strategies for facing life’s difficulties. Therapists utilize a range of skills and counseling approaches to help people achieve their goals, but for the people we work with, therapy sessions are just a safe space to talk through anything that’s making your life more difficult.
Getting Started
If you’re a teen or the parent of a teen interested in learning more about therapy, we hope you’ll reach out to us at LA Psychotherapy Group to schedule a free online introductory call with one of our trusted therapists. We’ll answer any questions you have, get to know you and your goals, and ensure our team is the right option to support you in achieving your desired results. If you’re ready to get started, take a few moments to call or text us at (323) 617-3913 or email our team using our simple online form.
