Does Your Teen Need Additional Support?
Is your teenager struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or low self-esteem?
Are they having difficulty managing their stress and emotions?
And do your attempts at intervening just result in conflict?
“Teenage angst” is incredibly common and, in some ways, a rite of passage during adolescence. Yet, as a parent, you are probably struggling to facilitate healthy boundaries as your teen individuates. As a result, your home life may be impacted by angry outbursts, frequent arguments, and the uncomfortable feeling that your child is growing apart from you.
If your teen grapples with disruptive emotional and/or cognitive symptoms—including ADHD—it’s likely their social life and academic performance have been impacted as well. They may often miss school, do poorly on tests and homework, and feel distracted by peer pressure. Maybe they don’t feel like they fit in or that no one understands them. It’s even possible they are engaging in self-harm as a means of finding an outlet for their pain.
Of course, you want what’s best for your teen, but you may think you’ve tried everything possible to help. That’s where we come in. A therapist specializing in teen issues can offer a neutral, safe space for your child to explore their experiences and emotions, ultimately transforming their mental health and well-being.
Today’s Teens Face Unprecedented Emotional, Social, And Cognitive Hurdles
It’s normal for teens to experience “big” feelings and occasional conflict with their parents, especially during times of transition and challenge. But as symptoms escalate beyond the bounds of what seems healthy, it’s important to seek counselling as an opportunity to instill lifelong skills for coping.
Unfortunately, today’s teens face many barriers in achieving a healthy emotional, physical, social, and academic mindset. Many adolescents experience immense pressure and scrutiny due to social media, and in fact, it’s estimated that one in four Canadian teens have been cyberbullied. [1]
Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on all our lives, but school-aged children endured a particular challenge in adjusting to online school. Some reports estimate that the majority—57 percent—of Canadian youth ages 15 to 17 “have experienced a decline in perceived mental health” since 2020. [2]
If your child is suffering, know that they are not alone. Meaningful help and support for teens exist, but many parents don’t know where to start or feel so overwhelmed by the mental healthcare system that they put off therapy for their teens. The reality is the sooner that teens begin counselling, the sooner they can master skills for identifying and coping with big emotions.
Our therapists are here to support both of you in enhancing your teen’s sense of confidence, empowerment, and well-being.
Sweet Spot Counselling Specializes In Mental Health Treatment For Teens
There are so many benefits for therapy for teens, including a neutral, safe space for them to explore, a deepened understanding of themselves and their relationships, and an opportunity to learn how to advocate for their needs in a healthy way that doesn’t contribute to conflict. At Sweet Spot Counselling, we are honored to work with teens and their parents on the path to healing and optimal mental health.
What To Expect
Therapy for teens begins with a standard intake that will help their counsellor better understand presenting symptoms and treatment goals. While parents are essential in the therapeutic process, we treat the teen as the client and involve parents to the degree that it feels comfortable for all involved. Depending on your child’s needs, we may offer you additional support and insight into how you can help reinforce therapeutic progress at home.
Beyond that, we let our teen clients lead the way in therapy. In guiding them to unlock the core beliefs that may be impeding their self-esteem, we will work to bolster strengths and create an individualized toolkit to draw from when stressed, upset, or overwhelmed. Our goal is to increase our clients’ self-confidence and self-compassion in a way that allows them to feel increasingly comfortable and capable in their day-to-day lives.
The Modalities We Use
We use a combination of counselling approaches specifically customized to each teen’s process. In particular, our therapists are likely to draw from behavioural approaches—including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—to help teen clients reframe cognitive distortions and learn to manage distress. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) can be useful for rewiring the brain’s stress response. And finally, narrative therapeutic approaches can help teens clarify their own identity and story in a way that feels empowering.
It is possible for your teen to develop effective and lasting coping mechanisms that they can carry with them through life. Therapy for teens opens the doors to heightened confidence, stronger relationships, and a meaningful sense of community. Working together, we can help your teen grow and evolve in ways that will contribute to harmony among the entire family unit.
Still Unsure If Therapy Is Right For Your Teen?
How long will my teen have to be in counselling?
It’s hard to say how long the therapeutic process will last for your teen, as each client has their own unique experience in counselling. But because we individualize the process for each client, we are confident that our approach works quickly and effectively.
The stronger the therapist-client relationship is, the more likely therapy is to be successful. With that in mind, we typically expect our teen clients to be in therapy for at least 8 to 12 sessions, at which point, we will check in with you and your teen to reassess.
Will I be involved in my teen’s treatment?
Teens are able to consent to their own treatment, and just as adults do, teens have a right to confidentiality. That said, we believe that parental involvement—even if limited—is essential for the healing process. Your teen’s therapist will work with both of you to determine a level of parental involvement that is both beneficial and appropriate.
How much does teen counselling cost?
In order to make the counselling process accessible, we have a variety of fee options available. For instance, our intern program supports masters-level clinicians as they complete their clinical hours, offering counselling services at an affordable rate. In addition, psychotherapy is covered by most extended benefit plans. Contact your provider for more information.
Your Teen Is Not Alone
Many teens encounter challenges with anxiety, depression, ADHD, and their mental health, but therapy through Sweet Spot Counselling can offer lasting relief. To find out more about our teen therapists or to schedule an appointment, contact us.
[1] https://www.cp24.com/lifestyle/1-in-4-adolescents-have-been-cyberbullied-statcan-says-1.6570270?cache=yesclipId10406200text%2Fhtml%3Bcharset%3Dutf-80404%2F7.258454%2F7.656680%2F7.622985%2F7.296811%2F7.296811
[2] https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2021-0078