Therapy For Teens

Not Sure How To Bring Up Therapy With Your Resistant Teen? Learn The Signs They May Need Support And How To Open The Conversation With Care.

I Think My Teen Needs Therapy…

Teenage years can be tough. Think slamming doors, rolling eyes, and a sudden aversion to parental affection. Teens' growing need for privacy, independence, and space to form their sense of selves can make it hard to identify and talk about mental health concerns. Sometimes these conversations can result in pushback or resistance, frustration, or anger and can feel like an endless cycle. So, what can parents do to support their teen when they may need help?

Teenagers undergo several life-altering transformations that can make it hard to determine what is a symptom of this transition and what is something that warrants mental health support. Though not exhaustive, below is a list of signs that could indicate a teen is grappling with deeper concerns. 

1. Any changes to their hygiene, sleep patterns, or eating habits.

2. Withdrawal from social groups, friends, or isolation from loved ones.

3. Suspected substance abuse.

4. Excessive use of social media or reported negative feelings after social media use.

5. Increased anxieties, worries, or depressive feelings.

6. Risk-taking behaviors, suicidal ideation, or excessive talk of death. 

7. Reactions to any external traumas or stressors.

Why a Teen Might Be Resistant

As a parent, if you have identified changes in your child that feel significant enough to warrant professional help, the next step can often feel the hardest. Opening a dialogue with your teen about therapy can be difficult, especially if they are feeling nervous, uninterested, or even resistant to the idea. One of the strategies parents can use to help facilitate a conversation about starting therapy is to first create space to understand why teens may not want to seek professional support. Every teen is going to have a different answer to the question of "Why not?" but there could be some valid reasons why they may feel uncomfortable about therapy.

1. They might not think they need help.

2. They don't believe therapy would work.

3. They've tried therapy before and didn't like it.

4. They find mental health concerns embarrassing or shameful.

5. They feel frustrated or defensive about the idea of change.

6. They feel hopeless, like nothing will get better.

No matter the reasons a teen lists for why they don't want therapy, it can be vital for parents to hear out their teens and validate their concerns or fears. Each of these is an understandable reason, and responding with understanding can help a teenager feel safe discussing any barriers to treatment.

How to Help

If your teen is seeming resistant to the idea of starting therapy and has voiced their concerns, having further conversations about that first session can feel tough. It is understandable that a teen might have trouble adjusting or getting on board with the idea, but as a parent, there are several strategies you can use to begin to open them up to the possibility of starting. Therapy can be effective and helpful even if a teen is at first resistant or hesitant about starting. Listed below are some ways that parents can support their teen in this journey.

1. Create space for your teen to voice their feelings and/or concerns. Teenagers sometimes keep their emotions and fears close to their chests, but having a safe space from their parents can help them learn the value in sharing those vulnerabilities with others and even feel more comfortable opening up to a therapist.

2. Address their concerns about therapy. Beginning therapy can be a scary and challenging thing at any age. Validating your teen's concerns and helping them feel heard can help make that beginning a bit less scary.

3. Reframe mental health support to address stigmas. Mental health concerns and being in therapy can come with a lot of negative connotations. Parents can help normalize both of these for their teens to help them feel more comfortable with the idea of seeking help.

4. Focus on their priorities and goals. Teens have their own values, goals, and priorities, and framing therapy as a tool with which they can focus on these things can be instrumental in helping a teen see the benefits of therapy.

5. Empower them to choose the right clinician. For anyone starting therapy, finding the right clinician is paramount. Encouraging a teen to make the final decision about who to choose can help them feel more in control and empowered.

Starting a teenager in therapy can be a difficult process, both for parents and the teens themselves. Mental health support can be life-changing for teens who are going through difficult traumas, external stressors, or internal struggles. Having tools with which to understand and talk to teens about therapy can help parents open the door to the process. If you are a parent with a teen who needs additional support, schedule a consultation call with our Client Care Coordinator to begin working with a clinician who can provide your teen with compassion, understanding, and unconditional care.

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