Teen Therapy

Is your teen moody?

Adolescent involves several and fast changes that can impact life at home and at school. These changes happen during human development as well as due to transitions in the environment. Losing a beloved pet, friend, or family member; moving to a new town and having to make new friends; being bullied at school; breaking up with a friend or girl-boyfriend; watching parents get divorced and having to decide which parent to stay with; or coping with a physical condition (ADHD, Asperger’s, etc.) … can all be reasons for a teen to feel sad, unmotivated, worried or show abnormal behavior. If these situations are not addressed, they can have a negative effect on teen’s development. Psychotherapy (or counseling) is a great option for the teenager, and their parents, to learn new skills and strategies to deal with these common challenges.

At the Relationship & Intimacy Center, our therapists focus on how to provide effective tools for teens and parents to feel good about themselves and their relationships and live better lives at home and at school. If your teen is facing challenges that they can’t overcome on their own, consider requesting an appointment with our teen therapist HERE.

What Is Teen Therapy?

Teen therapy focuses on adolescence issues (13-18yo). Therapy can help teens learn new coping skills to make their life better. Sometimes, children’s parents may be invited to participate if the teenager agrees with it. Teen therapy can make a meaningful difference in life by helping teens better understand their issues and learn how to manage them effectively.

There are many different methods and approaches used in Teens therapy:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a common therapy for teens and adults, especially those who suffer from anxiety and depression. CBT helps teens to identify their strengths and change their negative patterns to healthier ways of thinking.
Play Therapy: Sometimes it is hard for teens to express themselves verbally or to open up. Play therapy allows teens a gentle outlet to share their feelings and needs.
Family therapy: Sometimes teens may want to improve their communication with parents. With the teen approval, the therapist can invite parents to attend joint therapy sessions. This type of session gives teens and parents the opportunity for teens and parents to express themselves in a safe and controlled environment. Please note that, for Teen Therapy, parents can only be allowed to participate in joint sessions with the permission of their teenager (over 13 yo); this is a legal requirement in the state of Iowa).

Common issues addressed in Teen Therapy:

Anxiety
Depression
Learning disabilities
Bullying
Divorce
Coping with physical ailments
Trauma
Grief (lost of a pet, friend, or family member)
Major life changes like moving
Rebellious behavior
Lack of emotion or drive
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Breaking up with a girlfriend or boyfriend
Preparing to go to college
Other issues: Even if you or your child or teen are not sure about the cause of their emotional distress, meeting with a therapist can help identify what’s really going on.

Schedule an Appointment for Your Teen

Our child and teen therapists have a wide range of availability, including day, evening, and weekend appointment times. We understand how hard it can be to pick up your kids from school and then take them to an appointment. Luckily, we also offer online counseling options for those who have busy schedules or would benefit from speaking with a counselor from the comfort of their own home. We look forward to providing you the support you need for the wellbeing of your family.