Therapy for Adolescents

There are three phases of adolescence:
• Beginning phase: 11 years old and through middle school.
• Middle phase: The high school years.
• Late Phase: Transition into young adulthood.

Moving into a process of individuation, for the first time adolescents face the task of establishing their identity as separate from their family. They begin to think independently from their parents as a new awareness of self emerges and takes shape. This new developmental phase is a time when our youth need distinctively different parenting than they received as a child. While teens struggle to discover themselves and make sense of the world, how the adults in their lives show up or don’t show up is essential.

Our nation’s youth are the future of this world. Tragically, many are struggling. As they move forward into mastering this stage many are challenged in their ability to develop the skills needed to transition into adulthood — learning to be responsible, hold accountability, and affirming personal integrity. The rapid pace of technology and information sharing has negatively impacted our youth in the school setting and is contributing to a disconnect in our families. Our teens are reporting heightened anxiety, worry, disconnect, isolation, sadness, and depression at higher rates. The youth suicide rate in our country is the second leading cause of death among American adolescents and emerging young adults.

To help our teens through this phase of life, we as parents, teachers, and professionals need to provide a safe setting to encourage conversations and offer complete listening.

If you are a parent or guardian experiencing concerns about your teen, please contact me to discuss what might be going on. We can work together to find solutions.