Counseling for Teenagers
The teenage years are challenging for teens and their parents. Teens face many new pressures and may not always react in the healthiest ways to the problems they encounter. In some cases, teens may need counseling to help them cope with their problems. Many challenges and rewards come from counseling adolescents. Teenagers struggle with different issues than younger children and adults such as identity struggles, extreme peer pressure and fitting in. They often feel stuck between wanting independence and still needing guidance. Teens are more likely than adults to make decisions without considering the consequences and feel invincible.
Problems that teens and their parents may need a teen counselor's help to handle include changes in family life, developing an illness or disability, substance abuse or addiction, bullying or abuse, or other tragic events that may have taken place. While some teens can cope with these events better than others, almost all troubled teens will benefit from talking to a counselor about them. Sometimes a teen's behavior will indicate that there is a serious problem that requires counseling of some sort.
Types of Counseling
Regardless of the type of counselor a teen sees, make sure that the counselor is licensed, has experience treating teens in similar situations, and is someone the teen and his or her parents feel comfortable with. There are several types of adolescent counseling that may benefit troubled teens. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps teens reduce their negative thought patterns and increase positive behaviors. Interpersonal therapy focuses on how the teen relates to other people. Problem solving therapy teaches teens positive ways to cope with their problems. Group therapy allows teens to meet with others who have similar issues and talk about their problems under the supervision of a counselor. Online therapy groups are not recommended for teens because they are often not well monitored and can have negative results. Family therapy is also beneficial in helping teens and their families understand and deal with teen problems.