Teen Therapists in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Teen therapy is an important part of mental health development. Teenagers are under more pressure than ever. To look perfect, achieve high grades, get into the right school – not to mention the effects of near-constant social media exposure.
Adolescents experience a lot of firsts, including jobs, cars, and relationships. And let’s be real parents; no teenager-parent relationship is without its challenges. That’s where therapy for teens comes in. Our group of Fort Lauderdale therapists & psychologists offer heart-felt, effective therapy for teens.
Index:
- Areas of Focus for Teen Therapy
- Therapy for Teens with Anxiety and Perfectionism
- Trauma Therapy for Teens
- Therapy to Learn Healthy Coping Skills
- Signs It’s Time to Get Your Teen Into Therapy
- Therapy Myth-Busters
- What to Expect from Teen Therapy
- Therapy Services for Teenagers
- Frequently asked questions about teen therapy
- More Info
- Teen Therapy Reviews
“Adolescence is like having only enough light to see the step directly in front of you.”
Areas of Focus for Teen Therapy
- Depression
- Anxiety (Social Anxiety)
- Impulsive Behaviors
- Trauma Self-esteem
- Identity
- Body Image
- Relational Conflicts
- Bullying
- Life Transitions (leaving for college, changing schools)
- Break-ups
- Coping with Stress
- Parental Divorce
- Emotional Regulation
Therapy for Teens with Anxiety and Perfectionism
Remember all that pressure mentioned above? Well, one way to respond to it is by being PERFECT. That way, there’s nothing for anyone to criticize. While most of us objectively understand that it’s impossible to be perfect, that doesn’t stop some of us from trying.
The perfectionism trait is often accompanied by anxiety. You might notice your teen is always worried about their peer’s opinions and has a hard time making friends. They may stress constantly about their grades or always jump to the worst-case scenario in their minds. We can help them to move towards an acceptance-based way of thinking that makes them more flexible and regulated emotionally. This way, teenagers can move into their future as their best, most confident selves.
Reach out!
Trauma Therapy for Teens
When going through tough times, we sometimes discover that the “inner protector” in our minds – the part that warns us not to put ourselves in truly dangerous situations – can become a little over-protective.
Parents may notice that their teen is avoiding things they used to love doing. It can be hard to understand this from the outside, but this is because their inner protector is in overdrive, trying to prevent the next bad thing from happening.
It’s only natural for teens to want to listen to that part of themselves and avoid facing their trauma, but as a parent, you’re concerned. You are seeing a lot of changes in them, and you just can’t seem to break through that wall on your own. Therapy can help your adolescent feel understood, and provide a safe space for them to process complicated thoughts and feelings.
Therapy to Learn Healthy Coping Skills
Perhaps your high-schooler is engaging in self-destructive behaviors that are concerning you. They may be turning to drugs or alcohol, disobeying rules, becoming aggressive or yelling, or even hurting themselves. As a parent, you’re understandably concerned and confused as to why this is happening.
A lot of these behaviors occur because they provide something to your teen. For example, a teen becoming overly rigid with food and exercise may regain a sense of control after feeling out of control. Or, a teen drinking alcohol may feel a sense of escape from painful thoughts and feelings. In other words, engaging in maladaptive coping behaviors can get their physical or emotional needs met.
Your teen’s therapist can teach them healthier ways to cope with their difficult emotions and to behave in a way that aligns with their values.
Signs It’s Time to Get Your Teen Into Therapy
- Drop in grades
- Breaking rules
- Social isolation/frequent arguments with friends
- Self-harm
- Sleep changes
- Frequent tearfulness
- Loss of interest in hobbies
Therapy Myth-Busters
Are you hesitant about starting therapy? If so, that’s understandable and often caused by misunderstandings about what therapy entails. Let’s do a little therapy myth-busting so you understand what goes on behind closed doors (literally).
- Therapy is just advice. People can go to their friends or family for that.
Nope! We may give your teen some tips or strategies to help them learn skills to manage their emotions, but when it comes to how they live their life, that’s all up to them and their values. We help guide them to discover for themselves the kind of person they want to be and what decisions best align with that.
- Only people with serious mental illness go to therapy.
Definitely not! Therapy is appropriate for a wide variety of issues, including stress management, skill-building, and sleep problems.
- Therapists are overly serious and judgmental.
Not me! We really value bringing humor into the therapy space. It can help bring levity to heavy topics (when appropriate). Therapy is a judgment-free zone where you can openly share whatever is on your mind. Warmth, empathy, and trust are our key ingredients to building a strong relationship with our clients. We encourage our clients to let me know when something isn’t working for them.
Reach out!
What to Expect from Teen Therapy
- The first step is to give us a call: (954)-488-2933
- Our practice offers complimentary 15-minute phone consultations. During this consultation we will speak with the teen’s guardian to learn more about your adolescent’s needs and goals. Your teen will be matched with one of our expert therapists.
- Next, you and your teen will meet with their therapist for an initial session. Guardians should be present for the first session, but will likely only attend the first few minutes. The therapist will get a very thorough understanding of your adolescent’s unique history, background, and what they’d like to accomplish. They’ll share ideas for an action plan and collaboratively, you’ll both decide on next steps.
- Mental health treatment generally includes other team members as appropriate. You might be recommended to bring your teen to a general physician, psychiatrist, and/or dietician as a part of your treatment team to address both mind and body.
- How long does therapy last? The duration of treatment depends on many individual factors (e.g. the severity of symptoms, co-occuring conditions, attendance in therapy, etc.). Generally speaking, some folks reach their goals as quickly as ten sessions, whereas others may find it helpful to continue therapy for several months. The course of treatment will be collaboratively decided between client and therapist.
Therapy Services for Teenagers
Frequently Asked Questions About Therapy for Teens
- How do I explain therapy to my teen?
Here’s a short script to help: Therapy is really helpful to understand what may be causing people to go through a difficult time.
Therapists/psychologists are non-judgmental, warm and empathic individuals who can guide you through the process of learning new ways to cope with life and make meaningful change.
When you go to therapy, you’ll sit and talk, learn some new skills, and be able to process the tough stuff. A lot of people attend therapy and maybe we should give it a try.
- How is teen therapy different from adult therapy?
Therapy for teens can range in approaches, just like it can for adults. At The Psychology Group, we are passionate about providing warm, empathic care through evidence based treatments (aka- scientifically proven to be effective).
These treatments are specifically aimed at addressing the issues in an age-appropriate way, with care for the specific issues teens face (identity developments, relational conflicts, future planning).
- What information will be shared with parents?
As their legal guardian, you have a right to view treatment records (excluding psychotherapy notes).
It is our policy, however, that guardians agree to give up access to treatment records. This is due to the crucial role that trust plays in aiding the therapeutic process- especially with teens. Studies show that the relationship between client and therapist is at least as responsible for therapy outcomes as treatment modality, so it must be valued and protected. That said, your adolescent’s safety is the top priority.
If we believe that they are at high risk of harming themselves or someone else, then we will notify guardians of the concern.
- Can parents be in sessions?
Parents may be involved in the therapeutic process with the adolescent’s permission. Having parents in session can provide a lot of positive outcomes- conflict resolution, improved communication, and a feeling of closeness. We will encourage your teen to invite their guardian to a therapy session, from time-to-time.
Help your teen feel seen and understood. Book a 15-minute phone consultation with a therapist today.
Give us a call or send us a message and someone will be in touch with you asap.
(954) 488-2933
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