Does My Teen Need Teen Therapy?
We were all once teenagers, but sometimes it can be difficult to remember how difficult being a teen was back then. In addition to the regular teenage stressors, teens these days are faced with many factors that weren’t always a part of a teenager’s life: the internet, social media, a global pandemic, and identity issues. For this reason, many parents are left wondering – what is going on with my teenager? Anxiety and depression are two of the most common struggles facing teenagers currently. Oftentimes, there are tell-tale signs that a teen may be experiencing symptoms associated with either of these struggles, and that they may benefit from teen therapy.
What is Anxiety and Does my Teenager have Anxiety?
Anxiety is incredibly common, in fact, most people experience anxiety at some point in their life. When people are experiencing anxiety, they typically have a hard time processing their worries or fears. Sometimes, people can manage it on their own – however, teens, may lack the coping mechanisms necessary to manage anxiety in a healthy way, and the anxiety begins to “take over”. When the anxiety takes over, it can start to disrupt the teens life, both at home and at school. Some signs to look out for in teens would be: experiencing fear surrounding being away from parents or home, being afraid of being at school or where there are a lot of people, experiencing extreme fears of specific things, being worried about the future or being worried that bad things will happen (CDC, 2021). This may seem like anxiety is all “thought-based”, and for some people, it can be.
However, teens can also experience physical symptoms of anxiety, such as: pounding heart, difficulty breathing, experiencing shakiness, excessive sweating or cold sweats, and dizziness (CDC, 2021). These are all signs that your teen may be experiencing anxiety and would likely benefit from teen therapy, from a specialized teen therapist/teen counselor.
How do I Know if my Teen is Depressed and if they Should see a Teen Therapist?
Depression can come in many forms and can look different for everyone experiencing it. However, there are some common signs one can look out for, particularly when it comes to teenagers. The important thing to remember about depression is that the teen experiencing these signs/symptoms doesn’t have to have a pre-occurring event to “make them sad”. Oftentimes, depression occurs without the individual having a “specific reason” for experiencing it. Some of the signs to look out for are: not wanting to do things they previously enjoyed, changes in their sleeping habits, changes in their eating habits, experiencing hopelessness or sadness, and withdrawing from family and friends (CDC, 2021).
Depression, whether there is a “reason” for it, is very real. Many times, teens will stop engaging in a sport or musical activity they previously had a lot of fun in, they may want to spend most of their time in their room, they may stop hanging out with friends, and they may have trouble in school causing their grades to drop. If you think your teen may be dealing with some symptoms of depression, they would likely benefit from being evaluated by a teen therapist or teen counselor.
How will Teen Therapy help my Kid?
These are some general guidelines for things to keep in the back of your mind when interacting with your teenager, some helpful tips, if you will! Anxiety and depression are the two most common struggles teens face these days. But they are by no means the only ones! If you notice behavioral changes in your teen that last for more than a few weeks – it would be beneficial to set up an appointment with a mental health professional and bring them to a professional and have them assessed. In therapy with a specialized teen therapist or teen counselor, your teen will be able to express themselves in a safe environment and learn how to process their emotions in a healthy way. They will also learn healthy coping skills to implement when they are feeling overwhelmed by their emotions.
We offer Therapy for Teenagers in Miami and Online in Florida!
At The Heard Counseling, we have an excellent teen therapist in Miami, that can help your teen feel like themselves again! The goal of teen therapy is to provide your teen with a safe place to be themselves and express how they are feeling. We seek to provide them with the skills and tools necessary so that they feel empowered to handle life’s challenges.
If you are a teen considering counseling in Miami, please know that we want to support you in your journey! You may be experiencing some unpleasant or scary thoughts, or maybe you just genuinely don’t feel like yourself anymore. Why not try counseling?
If you are a parent considering counseling for teens in Miami, have the conversation with your teen and include them in this process. If you, as a parent, are noticing changes in them – imagine what they are feeling. Teens typically want to seek counseling when they are experiencing some of these symptoms, but don’t always know how. As a parent, this is a great opportunity to discuss counseling with your teen and include them in the process of finding a teen counselor.
Start Teen Counseling in Miami & Online Teen Therapy in Florida:
If you think you or your teenager might be dealing with depression or anxiety and are looking for a teen therapist in Miami or online in Florida to help you or your teen with your anxiety or depression we can help. To begin online therapy in Florida, or teen counseling in Miami here are the steps:
Contact our teen therapist
Request an initial consultation appointment with an teen therapist, April Brown, LMFT
Allow yourself to feel the impact of anxiety therapy and feel relief
Resources obtained from: Centers for Disease Control. (2021). Anxiety and Depression in Children. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/depression.html.