Teen Therapy

Recognizing whether your teen needs therapy can sometimes be challenging, as adolescence is a period of significant change and emotional ups and downs. However, there are several signs and behaviors that may indicate your teen could benefit from therapy.

Does your teen seem to be withdrawing or isolating themselves from friends and family? Do they display a significant change in mood or behavior that you find concerning? Are they struggling with sleep issues or recurring physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches? Have they experienced a recent traumatic event such as a major loss, assault, or accident? Or do you see them struggling with their self-esteem?

If you're not sure whether therapy is necessary for your teenager, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. Together, we can discuss your family's particular situation, and determine the best course of action moving forward.

Confidentiality is a crucial aspect of therapy, and therapists are bound by ethical guidelines and laws to protect their clients' privacy. In most cases, what teens discuss in therapy is kept confidential unless there is a risk of harm to themselves or others. Therapists may need to disclose information in situations involving child abuse, imminent danger, or court orders. However, therapists always discuss the limits of confidentiality with teens at the beginning of therapy to ensure transparency and trust.

Confidentiality allows teens to feel safe opening up and sharing what is on their minds. Ensuring teens feel that safety is critical to the success of therapy.

Whether or not you attend therapy sessions with your teen depends on various factors, including your teen's preferences, the therapist's recommendations, and the nature of the issues being addressed. Typically, most parents attend the first few minutes of the initial session in order to meet the therapist and share their perspective on what is happening in their child's life. This allows the therapist to better understand the family dynamic and the issues at hand. However, after this initial meeting, most sessions are conducted solely between the teen and the therapist.

From time to time, the therapist may ask parents to join the sessions to discuss any updates on the progress their child is making. If this is the case, we will first discuss this with the teen and then make the necessary arrangements. Moreover, if there are any issues that arise during sessions, parents can always reach out to the therapist to discuss the best way forward.

Parents play a vital role in supporting their teens' therapeutic journey. They can:

• Encourage open communication about therapy and express their support for their teen's well-being.

• Respect their teen's privacy and allow them space to explore their feelings without judgment.

• Participate in family therapy sessions if recommended by the therapist.

• Be patient and understanding of the therapeutic process, as healing takes time.

• Collaborate with the therapist to reinforce strategies learned in therapy and create a supportive environment at home.

The first step is calling us at (708) 713-5894 or filling out a contact form so we can learn more about the specific needs of your child. It is critically important that we match your child with the therapist who is best suited to your child's own unique situation. During this call we learn more about your child, hear your concerns, and answer any questions you may have. Once we have this information we will recommend the therapist who we feel is the best fit for your teen.