Teen Therapy in Orange County
Office in Laguna Hills, CA
Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, is adolescence. This developmental stage comes on quickly, and sometimes suddenly. It produces a variety of changes in creativity, emotions and curiosity.
Everyday I meet with teens, who want to feel better, and want know that they matter. Their greatest desire, beyond achievement and fulfilling obligations, is to feel better and understand their emotions.
They want to learn how to improve their relationships, and become clearer about who they are.
Maybe your teen is feeling stressed about their friendships? Or maybe they want support in a world where expectations feel like too much?
These are some common concerns teens in Orange County come to me with…
Making sense of emotions
Developing healthy relationships with parents
Fear of judgement
Competition “constant flexing”
Feeling people their age don’t care
Overdependent relationships
Guilt when they set boundaries
Time management
Lack of perspective taking in conflict
Academic Stress
Self-Esteem
Impulsivity
Rejection “being iced out”
Lack of follow thru
Rigidity
Healthy outlets for novelty and vitality
When it gets to be too much, your teen might struggle to get through the day. It’s hard to remember that teens don’t have the life experience and brain development, to recognize and regulate emotional experiences, as readily as adults.
They need support in learning how to do that.
Teen counseling can help your teen understand and manage emotional experiences now.
Together, I will work with your teen to identify the details of their emotional world. We will develop an understanding of what’s important to them and how they can recognize emotions earlier on. We will formulate a new compass and “road map” for how they can experience life. They will develop a deep respect, compassion and care towards themselves.
This “emotional map” will help them in every aspect of their life.
In order to be successful in the adult world, they need a strong foundation of their emotions, and how to approach interpersonal challenges.
An entire world is ahead of your teen filled with opportunity, adventure, and responsibility.
Perhaps your teen is depressed and wondering if they even matter?
Or they are anxious, and wanting to know they are enough.
Not only are they enough, they are more than enough!
How Does Teen Therapy in Orange County Work
I connect with your teen with a deep interest in their internal world. I want to find out what motivates them, hurts them and excites them!
The validation, curiosity and flexibility I provide them with, help them to realize they matter deeply, and that they deserve to take up space in this world. We begin to celebrate them!
Your role in treatment, as a parent, is also important. As a family systems therapist, depending on the presenting challenges, I work with the whole family throughout treatment.
Your teen needs to learn how to talk directly, with important people in their lives. It is not beneficial for them to come to therapy, to vent about their frustrations in relationships. I will help motivate and guide them, in learning how to talk through things with you.
I am skilled at explaining to teens, why I see speaking with their parents, as beneficial to their growth. Your teen will feel protected that their confidentiality is honored, regarding the topics they want privacy around.
When your teen is seen, known, and accepted they grow.
When your teen finishes their teen therapy treatment, my hope is they begin to like who they are. They will be ok spending time with themselves. They will settle less, and assert themselves more.
As a parent, by the end of treatment, your parenting journey during the adolescent years will make more sense. The work you will have invested in redesigning the relationship, will be evident. You will have a whole new level of acceptance about this stage of development.
While its impossible to not have ups and downs as a teen, I can help you make sense of it all. I am confident your teen can feel better now.
Connect with me today to learn about how I can help your teen reach new possibilities here in Orange County.