Suggestions for Parent on How to talk to your teen about Therapy
You know that something isn’t right with your teenager. Maybe they are stuck in their room for hours, they don’t want to talk to you, or you are worried that your teenager does not have many friends. You might be worried about how they constantly are on the phone and never actually engage in “real human” conversations. It is hard being a parent of a teenager. You want them to be able to feel comfortable to talk to you about anything, but they don’t.
You have started to think that counseling might help, that maybe they should see a teen therapist. Counseling for teens can be really helpful no matter what is going on with your teenager. If you believe that your teenager has anxiety or depression, seeing a teen therapist can be an important aspect of their recovery. Maybe you don’t think your teenager has any serious mental health concerns but you think it might be beneficial for them to talk to another adult about their problems and teen issues because they do not talk to you.
Now that you have figured out that seeing a teen therapist in Miami, FL, or online in Florida, might be helpful, you have to think about how you might talk to your teen about attending therapy. Here are a few things to consider and suggestions on how to talk to your teen about attending therapy.
Share Your Worries and what you have Noticed
How you talk about going to therapy with your teen can make a huge difference. You want to try and avoid using blame or accusing them in anyway as a means to get them to go to therapy. You don’t want to approach the topic as if there is something really wrong with them and they need to be fixed. That only causes shame, guilt and defensiveness. Instead, you want to begin the conversation with your genuine concern about their mental health and well-being.
To begin the conversation, you might ask them if they have a moment to chat. Give them two-time options to have that chat and allow them to pick which time works for them. Don’t just bombard them in their room at any time of the day. Timing is important. After they have chosen the time to talk about a teen therapist, begin the conversation with your feelings and concerns. Focus on behaviors and moods that you have been able to observe and that you have noticed have changed. You might say, “I wanted to talk about how I am worried about you. I have noticed that you have been sleeping longer than normal and you never want to leave your room.” Focus on concrete behaviors you are noticing instead of saying things like, “you are always in a bad mood” or, “I think you are depressed.” Avoid labeling the behavior and just describe the behavior that you are concerned about.
Share Your Limitations
Teenagers appreciate it when parents are honest about their own personal limitations and weaknesses. When parents are truthful about their struggles and don’t always appear as the expert, often, their guard will be lowered and they feel comfortable to share with you their thoughts and feelings. You want to be honest with the child about how you want to help them but that mental health is not your expertise. Discuss how it might be beneficial for them to talk to a teen therapist as someone who is out of their family, who will not judge and will help them work through their challenges.
Ask Them their concerns and thoughts about therapy
After expressing your thoughts and concerns, now allow them to talk. Ask them what they think about them talking to a teen therapist, what they are worried about and if they think it might be helpful. Listen to what they are saying without responding or interjecting right away. This can allow them the comfort of knowing that it is safe for them to share how they are truly feeling. If any questions come up as you are talking to your teenager about therapy, you might answer them with your own knowledge, look them up on line together, or e-mail a teen therapist in Miami, FL that you find or know about.
Some teenagers won’t know the answers to some of your questions, or they will answer, “I don’t know”. That is okay. Say that it is okay to not know. This allows them to feel like you support and are here to help them through this process no matter what. Teenagers really need to be approached in a nonjudgmental way in order for them to be open and relaxed. It is not always easy to be nonjudgmental, so make sure that the conversation is also at a time when you are able to show patience and be attentive.
Explain Privacy in Therapy with Teens
Many teenagers will have questions about privacy and what the therapist will and can tell to the parents. The therapist will discuss the limits of privacy and confidentiality at the beginning of therapy. A teen therapist should also have a protocol about how she handles privacy with teenagers so that they are able to feel safe and comfortable with the teen therapist.
Though it depends on the state’s laws and the child’s age, as the parents or the guardian, you likely have the right to their records and documentation from the therapy. It is important to bring this up with the therapist about what the therapist will share with you as the parent and what they will not share with you as well as what boundaries are in place so that the teenager knows what to expect. You might not know all these details till the beginning of therapy, just let the teenager know that this will be addressed with the teen therapist at the beginning of teen therapy.
Explain The Benefits of Online Therapy With You Teen
If you feel that your teenager is resisting the idea of therapy, explaining what online therapy for teens might look like can be helpful. You might begin by explaining that everything is online, so you are able to video chat with the therapist from the comfort of their own room. They don’t need to depend on their parents to be driven to the office, allowing them to avoid any award car rides to and from the therapy office and home.
Counseling for Teens in Miami, Florida
Seeing your child or teenager go through hardships can be so painful. You just want them to be happy but you don’t know how to help them or what is wrong. You want them to be back to their old selves. We are here for you and your teenager, to help them in their journey to getting and feeling better. We offer teen therapy in Miami, Fl with our teen therapist. She has many years of offering counseling for teens and is here to help you in Miami, FL or online anywhere in Florida. Learn more about counseling with teens here or how to begin counseling here.
Begin Counseling for Teens in Miami, FL:
If you want to help your teenager feel better and learn how to manage their anger, fears and worries, then teen therapy may be the answer you’re looking for. We would be honored to help you and your teen improve your teeanger’s mental health. To begin online therapy in Florida, follow these steps:
Contact our South Florida counseling center,
Request an initial consultation appointment HERE with an online therapist
Allow yourself the opportunity to feel better that your teenager is getting help through counseling.