Therapy for Teens

Is Your Adolescent Struggling With Their Mental Health?

• Has your child been experiencing severe mood swings or exhibiting drastic changes in their behavior or personality?

• Do they have difficulty forming relationships because of social anxiety or frequent conflicts with friends?

• Are you concerned that your child might be engaging in self-harming behaviors or disordered eating patterns? 

• Do they feel confused about their sexual orientation or gender identity?

Perhaps your teenager is dealing with intense worries or fears that interfere with their daily activities. Maybe you have noticed that your child has gotten into fights or acted aggressive towards others lately. Or they may have even expressed suicide ideation.

As a caring parent, you desperately want to help them, but you don’t know how to begin.

The lives of today’s teenagers differ significantly from even a generation ago. The ever-growing reach of social media and technology has transformed how teens communicate with each other and learn. These socio-cultural phenomena have a huge impact on the mental health of adolescents, and many parents are left wondering how to best support their children.

Many Other Factors Can Influence Teens’ And Children’s Mental Health

• Peer Pressure – During an adolescent's developmental phase, peer approval matters more than anything, as they are scrutinized by their classmates and subjected to mounting pressures to “fit in.” When peer pressure forces teens to act in ways that go against who they are, it can cause them to suffer from depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.

• Academic Pressure – Today's capitalistic society is highly competitive, and the importance placed on academic success can oftentimes feel debilitating for teens. A survey that investigated 1,950 adults and 1,018 teens, found that adolescents reported higher stress levels than the average adult (1). Many teens were frequently overwhelmed (31 percent) and depressed or sad (30 percent). They also reported regularly feeling tired (36 percent) and skipping meals (23 percent) due to stress.

• Bullying – Research shows that 22% of teens aged 12-20  report that they have experienced bullying, making them more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. They are also more likely to avoid school, withdraw socially, or struggle to focus on homework (2).

• E-Learning – E-Learning has played a significant role in the increased mental health struggles teens face, with many reporting heightened feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and depression. A recent study highlights that 61% of teens feel isolated, while 70% report experiencing anxiety and depression, worsened by the lack of in-person interactions (3). In addition, the use of digital technology, including e-learning tools, has been linked to exacerbating mental health issues when not balanced properly with enough positive social interactions.

The Prevalence of Mental Health Issues Amongst Teenagers And Children

For many adolescents, mental health challenges begin with puberty, yet they often don’t share their troubling thoughts or struggles with their parents. Therefore, we, as parents, must be made aware of the prevalence of these issues and the long-term consequences so that we stay attuned to the changes our children may go through and not overlook sensed cues of distress.

Understanding

The Physical And Psychological Changes During Puberty

The onset of puberty occurs around age 8 or 9, with hormonal shifts leading to physical changes like weight and muscle gain, skeletal maturity, growth spurts, increased body hair, and sexual capacity. However, the awkward physical transitions of puberty are not the only thing teens stress over—brain changes have a much stronger influence on their mental health.

In early adolescence, your child sees things in a polarized black-or-white way, with their primary focus being on things that are directly before them. During puberty, they begin making new connections, and the future, their identity, and relationships become more important. They also start to create their own values, which can differ from those of their teachers and parents. 

Some parts of the adolescent brain often develop faster than others. While teens may start thinking about long-term consequences, they may still make impulsive, conflicting decisions.

For example, your child might value good grades but choose to binge-watch a Netflix show instead of studying. The variability of this development can lead to parents and teachers experiencing frustration with the teen—and vice versa. 

Through therapy, teens can learn coping strategies for challenging situations, improve their emotional regulation skills, and make smart decisions for their future.

Counseling Can Help Teens Find Their Footing And Gain Confidence

At Repose, we understand that teens often feel nervous about engaging in therapy, especially if they sense that their therapist is attempting to dictate or judge their choices or can’t relate to them. That’s why we create a space where teens can feel comfortable opening up about their feelings.

Our teen therapists work creatively to explore the best ways to foster a deep relationship with adolescents through online counseling that is based on trust, mutual respect, and invites feedback and criticism. At the same time, we maintain openness with you, the parent(s), based on clinical judgment.

Typically, you and your teen will attend the intake session together so we can discuss your family dynamics and establish goals. Then, throughout the sessions with just your teen, we’ll explore topics like peer pressure, consent, sexuality, drug and alcohol exposure, bullying, social media, sports, and academic challenges.

Through Therapy, Your Teen Can Gain A New Perspective

If you’re seeking counseling in Connecticut, New Jersey, or New York, schedule an exploratory consultation with Repose to see if online therapy for teens is right for your child. Our client care team can assess your unique situation, clarify the therapeutic process, and advise you on the next steps.

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A Note To Children & Parents: Privacy

• 2 key components to seeing therapeutic progress are the therapeutic relationship and feeling safe in the therapeutic space. In order for change to come, and progress to be made, we need to ensure that we allow for a space to be created where your child feels comfortable sharing what is going on with them.

• Our teen therapists will maintain openness with you based on their clinical judgment. In order for you as a parent to see your child grow and heal, it is important for us to create safety in both the aspects of parenting and therapy. Allow your child the space to grow, make mistakes, be vulnerable, and change.

Under 18?

Special Information for Parents of Children Under 18 Years of Age

Timothy’s Law was enacted on January 1 2007 and provides greater mental health parity in insurance coverage for everyone, but especially for kids. Children under 18 years of age in New York State with significant emotional or behavioral issues (eg. ADHD, Oppositional Defiant, Anxiety, or Depressive Disorders) are eligible for the same exact coverage their insurance provides them for their medical benefits. Thus, your fee for seeing a child psychologist should be the same as it is for seeing a dermatologist or any other medical specialty, generally the amount of your co-pay.

Yes! We Accept Insurance!

Many of our therapists accept Aetna, Aetna Student, and Wellfleet Student health insurances. When using these in-network insurances, you will only be required to pay the cost of your copay at the time of service.

If you want to use other insurance providers with out-of-network benefits, you are required to pay the full fee at the time of service. When using out-of-network insurance only, we provide you with a monthly superbill (a receipt of the therapy services you paid for) with all of the necessary information for you to submit the claim to your insurance.

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