When Should a Teenager See a Therapist? And Should I Force My Teenager to Go to Therapy?
“Is my teenager experiencing typical stress levels or is it something more?”
“Teenagers are supposed to be moody and irritable, right?”
“Is my teen just overly dramatic?”
The answers to each of these questions are complicated since it can be very difficult to know whether your teenager is coping with their experiences in a healthy way or not. It is common for teenagers to face problems that negatively impact how they feel and act. Therapy can help improve your teenager’s self-concept, overall mood and confidence as they transition from adolescence into adulthood.
When Should a Teenager See a Therapist?
It can be very difficult to face the fact that your teenager needs help. Therapy can be beneficial for teenagers in a variety of ways. They will work with their therapist to learn to regulate their emotions, communicate effectively and become more self-aware. There are many issues that your teen’s therapist can help them to process:
Issues a Teen Therapist Can Help With
o Behavior problems
o Emotional struggles
o Mental health issues
o Substance abuse problems
o Heightened stress
o Relationship difficulties
o Traumatic experiences
If you are concerned about your teenager’s well-being, it is important to get them help as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the worse their issues could become. There are several warning signs that may indicate your teenager should seek out mental health treatment:
Warning Signs Your Teen May Have a Mental Health Problem
o Depressive symptoms such as constantly feeling sad, hopeless, fearful or anxious
o Abusing alcohol/drugs
o Anxiety or panic
o Decrease in school performance
o Sexual acting out
o Self-harm
o Changes in friends or activities
o Changes in sleeping/eating patterns
o Inappropriate anger
o Increasing defiance
o Withdrawing from family/friends
If you don’t notice these specific warning signs, but feel your teen needs counseling, do not be afraid to bring it up with them. Remember, you know your child best and may be the first person to observe shifts in their behaviors.
How to Bring Up Therapy with Your Teen
As a parent, it can be uncomfortable for both you and your teen to talk about seeking mental health treatment. Teenagers tend to be hesitant to go to therapy because they are worried what their peers will think or they may feel it is their parent’s way of punishing them. Reassure them that therapy is confidential and they can share as much or as little about their problems as they want. It is extremely important to frame therapy as a positive experience since parents can easily influence their children’s views.
Instead of telling your teen “You need therapy because you have thoughts about harming yourself”, say “Therapy is a safe space for you to express the harmful thoughts you have been experiencing. A therapist can help you create positive coping methods.”
Questions to Ask Your Teenager Related to Counseling and Mental Health
The following questions may also help to bring up the topic of mental health treatment with your teen:
“Are you feeling overwhelmed?”
“How can I best support you right now?”
“I don’t always know how to help you with problems, so I wonder if it would be helpful for you to talk to someone who works with teens?”
Sharing your own experiences with mental health and therapy can help to normalize their involvement and relieve any shame or embarrassment they may be holding toward their struggles.
Should I Force My Teen to Go to Therapy?
It is important that anyone who seek out mental health help is motivated to make progress and positive change in their life. Forcing your teen to go to therapy will not be productive for their treatment and may cause more harm than good. Teenagers need a sense of agency and to feel that they have a choice when it comes to their mental health treatment. You should always be sure to respect your child’s decision and continue to check in with them. There are some exceptions to allowing your teenager to decide if they will participate in treatment. If they are self-harming or suicidal, therapy is a necessary part of treatment, and if they are at risk of hurting themselves or others, call 911 or bring them to the emergency room.
My Teenager Refused Counseling, What Now?
Should your teen choose not to pursue therapy, there are still options that you can take advantage of that may help them:
Seek your own counseling
Parent training can teach you effective ways to help your teen
Speak to your teen’s school guidance counselor
Find out what services are available through your child’s school
Ask your teenager to consider going to a single counseling session before they make a decision
Give them a chance to experience what therapy has to offer before deciding if they want to continue treatment
Make sure they know that therapy is always an option
Be sure to keep the conversation surrounding therapy open and readily available should they change their mind
TEEN THERAPY IN CHICAGO, IL
If you're looking for a teen therapist in Chicago, contact us today. Our teen therapists would be happy to answer any questions you have about the therapy process and help your teen (and your family) start the counseling process.
Our teen therapists believe in providing evidence-based therapy. This means that we truly want you to get the most out of counseling sessions. Therefore, our approach to therapy for teens is based on treatment methods that we know from research really do help people improve their mental health.
If you have an anxious teen ready to begin therapy, please take the steps below to get started.
Fill out a consult form here.
Meet with a teen therapist to see if online therapy is a good fit.
Watch your teenager grow and become the person they’re meant to be.
OTHER MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN ILLINOIS
We know families are complex. And sometimes, multiple members of your family need some support. The therapists at our Chicago-based counseling practice offer a wide range of mental health services to support your entire family. In addition to anxiety treatment and teen therapy, we also offer counseling for depression, parent counseling, trauma therapy, therapy for work burnout & more.
Because our thearpists offer telehealth, we are able to help anyone in the state of Illinois. And, we have a variety of therapists who can work with teenagers. Additionally, our therapists specialize in working with LGBTQIA+ individuals as well as those who identify as a highly sensitive person.