Therapy for Teens

Being a teenager isn’t easy.

You’re not an adult, but you’re not really a child, either.

You have a ton of responsibility, and yet you still have to sit at the kids’ table on Thanksgiving. And then there are the pressures. So. Many. Pressures.

To get good grades, get into the best universities, plan on college even when you hate school, decide what you want to do with the rest of your life even though you’re only 15!

Stuck between a world of sticking to your values and making sure you don’t lose your friends. Wishing your parents would get you.

Wishing you could talk to them about anything without them freaking out.

When you’re going through a thing, it can feel so lonely.

You’re going through something, and no one else really knows about it… except maybe your best friend, but even she doesn’t really get it.

You wish you could talk to your mom or dad but have no idea how to bring it up.

Being a parent isn’t easy either

Not that long ago, your child still had that spark. That energy that followed them into every room, that smile, that laugh. And now he comes home from school and goes straight up to his room. You can’t put your finger on it, but you know something’s very wrong.

This is your child. You could always “make it better.” That’s all you want to do now, yet you’re helpless.

It’s time to give therapy a try.

For many parents, bringing their teenager to therapy can be a difficult decision – not knowing where to start, whom to trust, or if it’s even the right decision.

Some kids tell their parents they want to go to therapy. If this is your case, then go for it. Listen to them. You’ve raised a child courageous enough to ask. This is a sign that they trust you.

But maybe your child hasn’t asked. Maybe you’re not even sure therapy is what she needs. Maybe she’s not one to share her feelings.

Maybe you just have that nagging feeling in your gut that something is very wrong.

Listen to your gut.

How do you know it’s time to make an appointment?

We don’t know what they’re thinking and feeling unless they share, but it’s common for kids this age to share far more with their friends than they do with their parents.

So, we need to look for behaviors. If you’re observing things that don’t feel right, trust your intuition.

It’s usually right!

Some signs that it’s time to call

She’s been isolated or withdrawn, or she’s gotten into the habit of staying in her room excessively, avoiding coming out and joining family activities. She just doesn’t seem herself anymore – she complains of excessive headaches, stomach aches, illness – and you’ve found things that make you believe she might be harming herself – or thinking about it.

He’s not handing in homework, his grades have dropped noticeably, he skips one class or the whole day frequently, and teachers report that he’s lying, disregarding school rules, and exhibiting significant changes in behavior. You think he may be abusing alcohol or drugs.

She worries constantly, needing to have things a certain way, tends to be rigid, or allows excessive perfectionism to get in the way of moving forward or completing projects.

He’s angry all the time, with sudden outbursts that seem to come out of nowhere, and all his friends have disappeared or have been replaced by new ones you don’t know or who give you reason to worry.

You may feel helpless, but you CAN do something!

Give us a call at (847) 492-2121 or complete the form below.

We’ll walk you through the process. We’ll answer all your questions and take things at your pace.

We know how scary it can be to place your child into someone else’s hands, and we want this experience to be as comfortable as possible for the parents, too.

Once you’re ready, we’ll schedule your appointment with the therapist who’s the best fit for your teenager.