Teen Therapy

Are You Worried About Your Teen,
But Unsure How To Help?

Have you noticed changes in your teen’s behavior? Are they falling behind in school or spending less time with their friends? Do you wish you knew what was going on, but they won’t tell you?

Maybe the changes you’ve seen are not huge red flags, but they still make you concerned. Your teen might be communicating less and isolating in their room all the time. Perhaps they’re turning in homework late, neglecting their hobbies, or struggling to make friends. Maybe they’re overly concerned about what other people think of them.

In the face of all these issues, you might ask yourself: How concerned should I be? Should my teen be in therapy, or is this just a passing phase?

Parenting Can Often Feel Like Rocket Science

Yes, parenting a teen is rocket science at times. On one hand, you’re probably worried about their behavior. But on the other, you’re not sure how involved you should be. The more you try to talk to your teen, the more resistant they probably get. And if they won’t tell you what’s happening, you can’t figure out how to help—on and on the cycle goes.

You don’t have to support your teen alone. It’s okay to reach out for help. Counseling with Park Slope Therapy is a chance for your teen to talk to someone who will respect their privacy and help them work through their struggles in a way that’s comfortable for them.

Nowadays, Teens Are Under Ridiculous Amounts Of Pressure To Succeed

Being a teenager is hard. If it was easy, there wouldn’t be so many TV shows and movies about the teen years. Teens have to deal with breakups, bullying, academic struggles, family conflict—the list goes on. They’re also starting to wrestle with existential questions about their purpose in life and their plan for the future.

Here in New York City, teens are under ridiculous amounts of pressure. They’re expected to get into all the best schools, make their parents proud, and have lots of extracurriculars. On top of that, they have to deal with all the pressures of social media. Their timelines are filled with pictures of selfie-happy people living their best lives and showing off their beautiful partners. As a result, lots of teens feel like they’re missing out.

Many Teens Feel Like They Have No One To Turn To

Sometimes teens just don’t know where to turn. Since they’re becoming more independent, they usually don’t want to rely on their parents as much. This can make being a teenager incredibly lonely.

That’s why it’s so important for teens to get help. Therapy is a chance for teens to create a roadmap for the future with someone who will encourage and support them.

Contact Us

Therapy Can Help Your Teen Feel Seen, Heard, And Appreciated

Let’s be honest: the last thing your teen probably wants is another adult telling them what to do. Here at Park Slope Therapy, they don’t have to worry about that. Your teen’s counselor will be their biggest cheerleader and help them feel seen, heard, and appreciated for who they are. Along the way, they’ll give you the tools to communicate with them more effectively so that you can be there for them in everyday life.

What To Expect In Teen Counseling Sessions

Therapy looks different depending on the age of the teen. First, we’ll do a consultation call with you to hear what brings your teen into therapy and figure out if we’d be a good fit. Your teen will then meet with their new therapist individually moving forward.

Although we’ll check in with you from time to time, we really prioritize your teen’s privacy. In order to make progress, your teen needs to be comfortable being honest and opening about their struggles.

In sessions with your teen, we’ll help them figure out what’s getting in the way and provide coping skills for working through everyday problems. We’ll also help them learn to make decisions based on what they value. As a teenager, it’s so easy to live life on autopilot and rely on automatic and instinctive behaviors all the time. We want to help your teen tune into what they want in life. This way, they can respond more thoughtfully to what’s going on around them.

Tailoring Your Teen’s Therapy Plan

What approach we take depends on what works best for your teen. For teens who struggle with negative thoughts and low self-esteem, we often use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The goal of CBT is to challenge negative beliefs (such as “I’m not good enough” or “no one will ever love me”) and replace them with beliefs that are affirming and empowering.

We also draw from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). This approach offers a lot of practical skills for teens who are anxious and have trouble controlling their emotions. DBT can help your teen both reduce their stress and learn to tolerate it more effectively.

No matter what approach suits your teen best, we are confident that we can empower them to increase their confidence and overcome the emotional hurdles holding them back in life.

You May Have Some Questions And Concerns About Therapy For Teens…

What if my teen doesn’t want to go to therapy?

We totally get the reluctance. Sometimes teens think a therapist will just be another adult telling them what to do. Our approach is the exact opposite. We’re here to help your teen get to know themselves better and find the answers that they hold within them. What’s more, there is no pressure to commit to therapy right away. We encourage your teen to try a session and see how they like it. Usually, the teens who see us are surprised at how much they benefit from just a few sessions.

How will you keep my teen’s information safe?

Confidentiality is hugely important to us. For your teen to work through their struggles successfully, they need a place where they can talk about them openly and without fear of anyone else finding out. That’s what therapy provides.

What if other people judge me because my teen is in therapy?

In many ways, the stigma around therapy is a thing of the past. The current generation of teens is the therapy generation. For them, seeking therapy is admirable and talking about teenage depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues is normal. What’s more, no one else has to know about your teen’s time in therapy if you don’t want them to!

Your Teen Deserves To Be Seen, Heard, And Accepted

Being a teenager is no cakewalk. Therapy is a chance for your teen to have someone walk with them on their journey who offers acceptance and validation. To get started, you can use the contact form, email us, or call 929-297-9753 for a free, 20-minute phone consultation.

contact us