Adolescent Talk Therapy
Talk therapy is a place for us to address needs and meet demands.
Why do some teens need talk therapy?
Adolescence, which we categorize as middle through high school, is a pivotal, transformative, and challenging stage in development. Perhaps you find that the activities that your teen used to enjoy have changed overnight, or school and friendships are becoming increasingly more stressful for them. During this time, adolescents are grappling with their own identity, learning how to separate from their parents, and moving from childhood into adulthood. Put simply, it’s about discovering who they are and who they want to be.
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As therapists, we hold the knowledge and expertise on the various challenges that adolescents face, and appreciate these nuances as so much more than rebellious teen behavior. We believe that adolescence is precious. Talk therapy allows the adolescent and therapist to build a trusting relationship, create a safe space, and get to the route of the issue.
What can a teen expect when visiting with a therapist?
Talk therapy is a place to bring their whole self. It is a safe and unique space where teens are accepted without judgment. The building of the therapeutic relationship between the adolescent and therapist is key to the therapeutic process and takes time. This means that in the beginning, your therapist will get to know the teen and build rapport by asking questions about school, family, friends, and all of the pieces that are important to the adolescent. Strengths are just as important as the presenting problems. This means that while there is time dedicated to working out problems, there is also time to build on skills and highlight their strengths.
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How is COVID relevant to my teen and talk therapy?
The last few years have presented innumerable and evolving issues for adolescents. In a developmental period that necessitates socialization and connection, COVID was especially isolating for them. As we watch and learn from the ways that teens have responded to COVID, we see that their lives and social worlds have dramatically shifted. Maybe you’ve noticed your teen mindlessly scrolling through their phone or playing video games for hours on end. For a period of time, screens were one of the few ways that many children and adolescents could connect. Now, they are forced to learn and adapt to the new normal in a post pandemic world. Talk therapy is a place to address these needs, and meet their demands.