I Need Teen Counseling Near Me—Where Should I Turn?
Teenagers have a very rough gig. They have the stress of school, social situations, extracurricular activities, overactive emotions, and a feeling that they are not quite a kid but not quite an adult. It can be a very trying time for any teenager, but some teens have even more trouble than others.
When you see your teen dealing with the challenges of adolescence, your first instinct may be to try and fix their problems for them. But teenagers are old enough to participate in addressing their concerns and learn to manage their emotional and mental wellbeing. This is where teen counseling can come into play. A licensed therapist can teach them coping skills so that they can solve these problems for themselves.
Signs your teen needs counseling
Developmental depression symptoms
Developmental depression is brought on by the changes associated with growing up. Teens feel grief over the fact that they are no longer a child, and they are not yet an adult to make up for it. This can lead to a type of situational depression that can lead to the following symptoms:
- Mood instability
- Frequent feelings of sadness
- Loss of interest in several activities
- Social anxiety
- Occasional fatigue or insomnia
If your child has any of these symptoms, they may have developmental depression. Therapy can help teens cope with these changes more effectively. It can help them to have a therapist that they can confide in and discuss their feelings in a safe environment.
Atypical depression symptoms
Atypical depression in teens is similar to developmental depression, but it is exacerbated by additional factors. Teens might experience atypical depression if they have added stressors such as financial stress, illness or injury, death of a loved one, moving away from the family home or school, or social rejection. Some symptoms of atypical depression include:
- Frequent depressed or sad mood
- Loss in interest in all activities
- Social isolation
- Frequent fatigue or insomnia
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Severe mood swings
If your teen has any of these symptoms of atypical depression, you should seek out help for them right away. Teen counseling is the first step to combatting these issues.
Substance use or misuse
Substance abuse is usually a method of self-medicating. Often teens try drugs and alcohol because their peers tell them that it will make them feel better. When it works, even though temporarily, they become convinced that substance abuse will keep them on an even keel. Substance abuse is almost always a symptom of a larger problem, but it is one sign that your child needs teen counseling.
In some cases, teens may also start partaking in self-inflicting behavior.
If you believe this to be the case for your teen, some resources for immediate support include the Crisis Text Line, text HOME to 741741 to connect with a Crisis Counselor, the Trevor Project for LGBTQ+ youth available for text or call at 1-866-488-7386, and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.
Other reasons for teen counseling
There are many different reasons that your teen might need counseling. Teens often face difficulties in social situations, school, and home life. Some more of the most common reasons for teen counseling include:
- Anxiety
- Stress
- School or Social Issues
- Low Self-Esteem
- Trauma
- Grief
If your child is coping with any of these issues in addition to their normal teen problems, they are likely at risk for situational or atypical depression, and they need to seek treatment. There may be additional situations that arise that require your teen to see a therapist. These might include teen pregnancy, issues with romantic relationships, or general social rejection.
Finding teen counseling near me
If you have determined after the above information that your teen does need counseling, your next step is to find them the help that they need. If you want to make sure that your teen gets the best help possible, you will need to identify why they need counseling and make sure that the therapist you choose has experience in that arena.
You may have to do quite a bit of searching to find teen counseling near you that is appropriate for your child. As you get referrals and find counselors, talk to them about your teen's symptoms and reasons for counseling to make sure that they can treat them appropriately.
Referrals
Your first step in finding teen counseling near you is to talk to your child's pediatrician, your family doctor, friends, and family, your teen's school, and your health insurance company. All of these individuals and organizations will be able to help you find teen therapists in your area. If none are available, you still have some options for getting help.
Online searches
If you don't have health insurance or a primary care doctor, and your child's school is unable to help, referrals may not be an option. A simple online search will turn up many therapists in your area, but not all of them will be willing to work with teenagers. It is important to call around and ask lots of questions to determine if they can help before scheduling an appointment. This can be time-consuming, but if your teen does better with someone in person, it can be worth the effort.
A sample search could be "depression therapist near me" then you can just reach out to the results and confirm if they work with teens.
Online teen counseling
If you don't have the time or resources to find a teen therapist near you, or if you live in an area where no teen counseling is available, you still have options.
Regain is one such online counseling service. With Regain, you can connect your teen to a licensed therapist via text chat, voice chat, or video chat. Regain is available 24/7/365, so your teen can participate in therapy without it affecting their school or activity schedule. Teen counseling can happen anywhere at any time with Regain. All you need is a quiet room or vehicle and a smartphone, tablet, or laptop.
Online counseling has also been shown to be an effective alternative to in-person treatment. Recent research has shown that, with teens especially, therapy that utilizes technology can help to close the gap in treatment options for those who live in rural or less covered areas, and can offer treatment to people who might otherwise not seek it by making it more convenient, affordable, and intuitive.
Online counseling services are available to allow your teen to get the help they need in a convenient and time manageable way.
Takeaway
If you are discovering that your teen is having more than the typical growing pains, it is important not to wait to get them the help they need. Teen therapy is important for maintaining a healthy relationship between you and your child. Contact Regain or other resources today to get your child into teen counseling near you.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How do I find a teen therapist near me?
It's understandable if you're feeling overwhelmed about finding mental health counseling or therapy for your teenager. There are multiple routes you can go when you are looking for a therapist or counselor. First, you can ask your teenager's primary care provider for a referral. This is a particularly good idea if you know exactly which provider you want them to see already. Another excellent option is to call your insurance company or check their website to see what they cover. That way, if you're not sure what provider would be a good fit for your teen, you can give your insurance company a vague description of what you are looking for over the phone (for example, "I'm looking for a teen counselor that works with anxiety") and they can help you find a match in your local area. You can also conduct a search online for what you're looking for. for example, you can search for "teen counselors near me" or "teen counselors that work with anxiety near me."
How do I know if my teenager needs therapy?
If your teenager requests to see a therapist, trust that it is something that they need to do. You don't have to have diagnosed mental health issues to see a counselor or therapist. If your teen isn't the one requesting therapy, there is a wide variety of reasons that a teenager could benefit from therapy. Here are some reasons parents might seek therapy for teens:
Substance use
Bullying
Anxiety
Depression
Trouble in school
Behavioral concerns
Changes within the family, such as divorce
Grief or loss
Teen years are difficult in general. Therapy can help people with life transitions, relationship issues, whether those are with friends family or romantic partners, mental health concerns such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and substance use, or anything else that they're going through. Therapy helps you to develop coping skills, learn to communicate more effectively, work through trauma, and more.
What is teenage counseling?
Teenage counseling is counseling that is catered to teenagers. A teen counselor specializes in therapy for teens. They concentrate on working with children adolescents and those transitioning into young adulthood. There are many therapy modalities that a teen counselor can utilize, and as with providers that work with any age group, a teen counselor's practices will vary depending on the provider. There are many different kinds of counseling, which is why it's essential to find therapy for teens from a therapist experienced with children adolescents and those transitioning into young adulthood. Some of the different types of therapy include art therapy, online therapy, music therapy, couples therapy, premarital counseling, and family counseling. A very popular type of counseling for both teens and adults is cognitive behavioral therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy cbt is an effective form of counseling for a wide variety of different concerns. Cognitive behavioral therapy is about thought reframe, working through your thoughts to make them more manageable, emotional management, and behavior change. It helps people to develop coping skills. Many teens benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy because it’s generally short-term and is a non-invasive, positive form of treatment.
Does my kid need therapy?
Anyone can benefit from therapy, and a teenager might need therapy for a variety of reasons. Here are some things that may lead you to seek counseling for your teen:
Trauma
Grief or loss
Symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns
Eating disorders
Experimenting with drugs
Getting in trouble with the law
Bullying or trouble with peers
Difficulties at school
Struggles with family conflict
Behavioral problems such as angry outbursts
A teen may also benefit from counseling if they are feeling stressed for any reason. This could be related to school, interpersonal relationships, or it could be due to an underlying issue like perfectionism. Getting an idea as to what your teen is struggling with can help you figure out what kind of therapy to look for.
How do I help my teenager who doesn't want help?
It's tough when a teenager doesn't want help. The answer to this question varies tremendously depending on the teen, the concerns they're facing, and your teenager's personality. Sometimes, a teenager will want help, but other times, they will be completely resistant and display anger or upset that can be extreme. They might say that they don't have a problem or resist the physical act of going to therapy, group, or treatment. The best thing you can do is to listen to what they have to say, stay calm, and show affection. Listening doesn't mean that you need to agree with your teen. Depending on the situation, you might say something like, "would you prefer to be alone right now, or would you like to talk about how this makes you feel?" Another thing to do is to affirm their emotions. For example, if they say that they're angry and feel that their was breached, you can say, "I hear that you're angry. Can you help me understand?"
When they're in a calmer state, let them know that they are loved. Be emotionally available when your teen is willing to express their thoughts to you, and no matter what they're feeling, remind yourself that all feelings are valid even if you yourself don't understand them and that what your teen is experiencing right now is real to them. If a teen is upset about going to therapy, you can also say, "I know that this is extremely upsetting and need you to give this a shot. I'm here if you want to talk." It hurts to get backlash from a teen, but it is inevitable, especially with teens who are troubled and prone to outbursts. If you are having trouble with a specific situation with your teen and need to think about what to say to a teen based on their unique circumstances, seeing a therapist yourself can help you work your way through it.
Therapy modality or the specific therapist a person sees can make a huge difference when it comes to a person committing to getting help or going to therapy long-term. For example, if your teen loves art and gets to see an art therapist that they relate to, they might be more likely to stick with it or open up. They might be more comfortable with a therapist that has a more trendy, youthful demeanor or may be more apt to continue seeing a therapist with specific mannerisms such as a professional who can both help them and understand their sense of humor. Your teen will only get the most out of their counseling sessions if they have a provider that they feel like they can talk to. Being timid or resistant is normal in the first couple of counseling sessions, but having a therapist that you can get comfortable with and click with is ultimately extremely helpful. Finding a therapist with experience working with teens is essential; you want your teen to see someone who is used to and adept at working with their age group.
Although they might be upset for a while, know that they will almost certainly get used to the routine eventually. If a therapist truly isn't working for your teen and it's not just a matter of not wanting to go, actively attend to what your teen is saying. Be genuine while you listen to their concerns and consider switching providers. It can take time to find the right therapeutic match, so know that this is normal and that your teen can benefit from another counselor or therapist if the first doesn't work out.
How can I get my child to go to therapy?
Since teenage years are such a sensitive time, something that can help your teenager be more open to therapy if they don't want to go is to find them a counselor that they really resonate with. It's challenging to make a teenager go to counseling if they don't want to at first. The most beneficial thing that you can do is let them know that they are loved and, if they're worried about committing to it long-term or are telling you that they don't want to have to see someone all the time, assure them that therapy doesn't need to last forever and that all you require is that they give it a chance. Of course, there are many nuances here, and it depends on what your teen needs help with. Generally, if they can feel involved or somewhat authoritative in the process and can make some of the decisions as to what kind of therapy they go to or switching to a different provider if they don't like the first one, it can help. There are situations in which teens are in danger and are engaging in substance use or other behaviors that could harm them physically, where they will have to just take them to therapy or another form of treatment against their will. Use as much firm love and compassion as you can and know that you are doing the right thing. Don't be afraid to see a mental health provider yourself if it helps you through the process as this can be incredibly difficult, and it's hard to know how to navigate relationships with teens.
How can I help my teenager?
While you are looking for professional support for your teenager, the most important thing to do is to show them unconditional love. Be there for them to talk to, and explicitly say "I love you" to them. Try not to yell or raise your voice. Additionally, don't treat them like their mental health concerns are a burden. Emphasize with them, and ask them to tell you about how it feels. If they say "you don't understand, let them know that no, you don't understand, but you are there to listen. Validate their emotions, including ones that are hurtful for you, such as your teen not feeling understood. Find a therapist with experience working with your teen's specific issues. For example, if they have an eating disorder, it is vital that you seek an eating disorder specialist because someone who does not specialize in eating disorders will not understand the condition enough and may do more harm than good.
To find help for your teenager, you can search for providers online, get a referral from their physician, or call their insurance company to see what services are covered. Depending on what you're looking for, you can conduct a web search by typing in something like "teen therapy cbt," "family therapy near me," "children adolescents therapist for gaming addiction," or "premarital counseling." Contacting a therapist can be as simple as writing an email to a provider with a subject message stating what you're looking for or calling the provider or their place of work on the phone. It can be an experience that leads to feeling overwhelmed, but it is worth it, and the most important thing is that you don't give up on finding your teenager the help they need. Again, if you are having trouble getting help for a teen, remember that you may benefit from getting support yourself during this process. Even if it feels like a time constraint issue, therapy can take a big weight off of your shoulders, and you may even present a positive example for your teenager by going to counseling. You and your spouse can seek couples therapy while you seek help for your teen, or you can engage in individual or family therapy. No matter what you decide, know that this is no easy battle, and be proud of yourself for supporting your teen.
What is a teen counselor called?
Is Counselling good for teenagers?
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