Counselling for Teens, Tweens, & Adolescence
Our youths are precious. They are also very difficult to understand because they have their own views of the world and those views generally do not fit well with adult ideas of how things should be.
Feeling Overwhelmed
The impact of social media, peer pressure, pressure to achieve, relationships, belonging, gender identity, drugs, abandonment, abuse, and coping are heightened and can feel…too much.
Especially during Adolescence a difficult period full of intense emotion and pressures. While adolescence is a time of tremendous growth and potential, the navigation of this critical transition period can be difficult.These challenges and various overwhelming emotions do not have to be faced alone.
Pressures
Social Media Impact
The world of social media is complex and difficult to navigate, it is rife with misinformation, disinformation, misuse, bullying, sexual exploitation, scams, and predators. It is understandable that children, pre-teenagers and teenagers may feel anxious, overwhelmed, unsafe, humilated, isolated, and confused.
With the access to technology exposure is often at home and after school hours, the impact of which is often unknown to parents and can have lasting effects.
Social Skills/ Learning Difficulties
Not all children learn to read and respond appropriately to social cues simply through the process of growing up. Learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, and autism spectrum challenges, as well as anxiety, and low self-esteem, often affect social skill development.
The impact of these issues can continue into adulthood, often resulting in young adults who feel socially isolated, bewildered or intimidated in work and social settings.
Gender Identity
Gender identity, diversity and dysphoria in children and teenagers.
The formation of a stable and healthy identity is difficult. Tweens and Teens face many new challenges in this extremely fast-paced world. You may be questioning your sexual identity, experiencing internalised or externalised homophobia, struggling with the norms in your community of choice, or deciding whether to come out to your family or friends. Our goal is to provide a safe and affirming therapeutic environment in which to explore and address these important questions.
Dealing with Abuse – Physical or Psychological
Abuse takes many forms physical, emotional, sexual, and neglect. A child or teen who’s being abused or witness to abuse may feel guilty, ashamed, isolated, degraded, worthless, or confused. They may be afraid to tell anyone about the abuse, or especially if the abuser is a parent, other relative or family friend.
Some effects may be immediate withdrawal, anger, bullying, hyperactivity, giving up on activities, and absenteeism, but the emotional effects of abuse are not always immediate or visible. The long-lasting effects may only become evident as a child becomes older and depressed, self-harming or exhibiting other disturbing behaviours or symptoms. That’s why it’s vital to watch for red flags, and seek professional help.
Our goal is to lessening the negative impacts of the experience. We help you learn about healthy behaviours, trust, physical and emotional space, confidence, conflict management, and boost self-esteem.
Steve is registered for Sensitive Claims for ACC.
Teen Depression
Depression is unlikely to go away on its own, but teenagers with depression usually get better with treatment. This means that seeking early help is the best thing you can do.
Most young people won’t seek help themselves, so they will probably need peer or parental support to get professional help.
Common signs of Teen Depression
Self-harm
Self-harm includes anything you do to intentionally injure yourself. Self-harm can be your way of coping with problems. It may help you express feelings that you can’t put into words, distract you from your life, or release emotional pain. Afterward, you probably feel better—at least for a little while. But then the painful feelings return, and you feel the urge to hurt yourself again. If you want to stop but don’t know how, remember this: you deserve to feel better, and you can get there without hurting yourself. It can be scary to talk about the very thing you have worked so hard to hide, but it can also be a huge relief to finally let go of your secret and share what you’re going through.
The road to discovery:
Drawing on a mixture of Cognitive Behavioural, Psychodynamic, and Family Systems therapies, and using a range of art and play techniques, children of all ages are encouraged to identify, explore, and resolve behavioural and emotional struggles. Working with their strengths as well as their interests, children and adolescents enjoy and willingly participate in the therapeutic process.
Children are naturally carefree. This is how they were meant to experience the world. As one year adds to another, so do their cares add to each other. Sometimes they take on too many cares and this distresses them and sometimes they dismiss the cares of themselves and others and this distresses their parents.
If you or your child struggles with any of the following issues, I can help
- Anger Issues
- Self Esteem/ Worth
- Learning Styles and Attention Differences
- Abuse, physical or psychological
- Bullying or are involved with bullying.
- Gender identity
- Difficulty with Social skills
- Adoption Issues
- Mood Disorders
- Anxiety/ Stress/Depression
- Grief and Loss, Trauma
- Self-harm
- Coping with Parental Divorce
- Thoughts of suicide
- Substance abuse or other risk taking or impulsive behaviors
- Communication and relationship issues
- Perfectionism and obsessive thinking
- Youth behaviours that have incurred police involvement
Interactive Therapies
Youth Programs
In a group setting appropriate to age, gender and social skill strength and weaknesses, children learn those social skills that will help them make and keep friends more successfully. While learning in a group context, each child has individual treatment goals and skills to practice between sessions.
Music Therapy
Music Therapy is used to decrease signs and feelings of depression, boost overall mood, reduce the perception of pain and restore overall health – not to mention that music taps into the brain reward systems. Music can be a great way to express our feelings in a safe setting.