Being a teen can feel very lonely. Many teens feel like no one understands them, like their parents have never gone through what they have gone through because they are in a different generation.
Because of this difference in generations, teens often feel misunderstood and therefore close inward.
Not only do teens have to deal with hormonal and emotional changes, they also are facing constant social pressures and are trying to fit in with their peers. Also, they are expected to achieve academically, and are often asked about their future careers and plans, many times, as they are still exploring and discovering who they are as a person!

While teens are struggling, so are their parents. You as their parent only want the best for your child. You will do anything to get through to them, only to be met with a brick wall, rejected before you can even walk through the door. Or, even worse, maybe you will be blamed or criticized as the reason for your child’s problems.

The good news however, at Apple Psychological, we are not here to blame or judge. We are here to help and find solutions. With the help of a warm, compassionate, experienced therapist, your teen will feel validated and will gain the skills to communicate effectively, gaining the self-awareness and confidence and emotional stability that they need to cope with their challenges.

WILL YOU TELL ME EVERYTHING THAT MY TEEN TALKS ABOUT IN THERAPY?

The most important factor in developing a successful therapeutic relationship is trust. If a therapist shares every detail of their teen’s treatment with their parents, you can be assured that the teen will never allow themselves to be vulnerable, and then the therapist will not be able to get to the root of the problems impacting the teen.

However, you can trust that the therapist will encourage your teen to reach out to you when appropriate, will offer and ask to include you in sessions, and absolutely will let you know immediately if there are issues that involve danger to his/her/themselves or others.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY TEEN’S BEHAVIOR IS NORMAL OR IF THEY SHOULD SEEK THERAPY?

It is typical for a teenager to experience moodiness from time to time. However, if you notice that your teen is having angry outbursts more frequently than usual, is withdrawing or isolating themselves from friends and family, lacks motivation, or becomes disinterested in activities that they once enjoyed, then you know it is a time to seek help. Other signs include a drop in school performance, significant anxiety, panic attacks, sleep issues, or difficulty concentrating.

Regardless of the symptoms, it is important to let your teen know that they are not alone and there is help. Also, therapy can result in growth even if significant, noteworthy symptoms are not present and they just need an objective, supportive therapeutic relationship to navigate the murky waters of adolescence.

SHOULD I FORCE MY TEEN TO GO TO THERAPY IF THEY DO NOT WANT TO GO?

While it is challenging as a parent to see your teen struggling, especially when you know that there are internal issues they are facing and they would benefit greatly, it is not a good idea to force your teen to go to therapy. We are here to support you as the parent first, in the event that your teen is not ready to start therapy. In our experience, sometimes, teens are willing to join their parent for a few minutes in the session and then can establish a rapport little by little over time.

In addition, because we are a telehealth practice, teens often feel comfortable being in their own environment and therefore establish rapport more quickly at times. Either way, we work at the pace of you and your teen to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

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