Topics Covered in Teen Counseling

Teens are naturally moody due to fluctuating hormones from adolescence. However, there are times when a child requires professional intervention to process the world around them or to move past a loss or trauma. Teenagers are also fraught with questions regarding identity, friends, independence, and the future.

Teen counseling covers many topics, from relationship problems to addiction to building emotional resilience. When you choose Christian teen counseling, you provide your child with faith-based principles and the best psychology methods customized for them.

Does teen counseling work?

Teen counseling works by helping children learn to identify and analyze negative thoughts and emotions, shift mindsets and perspectives, and change behaviors. Teens in counseling are taught the skills to cope with disappointments and loss, set goals, and build resiliency, all of which are necessary in adulthood.

Teen counseling brings families together by working with the parents to help their children. If you choose Christian counseling, the goal is also to get the family closer to Christ-like living and following the principles laid out in the Bible.

Topics Covered in Teen Counseling

In the past, parents tried to get through the teen years as best they could. Now, parents have more resources available to them, and the stigma that once surrounded mental health has decreased due to awareness.

If your child struggles at home or school or has expressed interest in talking to someone, don’t hesitate to ask for help. You want your child to come to you with any problems, but often, teens feel embarrassed or unsure of how their parents will react regarding a subject. Teen counseling is a way to bring families closer together while helping the child through struggle.

The following are several topics covered in teen counseling.

Relationships with peers As most adults know, middle and high school are sources of drama for many families. Teens struggle to connect, belong, and socialize with their peers. From problems with their friend circle to bullying, counseling can help them navigate these tough relationships. If your teen faces bullying, the counselor can help mediate with the school to make progress in ending the bullying.

Relationships with family Hormones, personality clashes, siblings, and close quarters can make family drama an everyday occurrence. No matter how close you are to your teen, there are bound to be moments when emotions run high. You may not know how to get through to your child anymore at this stage of their life. Counseling can improve communication between parents and teens and help to strengthen the bonds between siblings.

Anger issues During the teen years, a child’s brain is still developing, and they may struggle with anger and impulse control. Fluctuating hormones and parental issues add to this struggle. When emotions run high, words can be said, and regrettable behaviors can occur. Counseling teaches the necessary skills to manage anger. If suggested, family counseling is also available to help parents manage their own anger while raising children.

Anxiety. Teens face issues at home and school that can cause anxiety, including:

• Academic pressure.
• Athletic pressure.
• Problems at school.
• Bullying.
• Peer pressure.
• Drama with friends and girl/boyfriends.
• After-school job responsibilities.
• Church responsibilities.
• Responsibilities at home.
• Sibling rivalry.
• Parental conflict.
• Sick parent or family member.
• Drug or alcohol use in the home.

Teens are unable to process anxiety at an adult level as their brains are still developing. Counseling teaches them to de-stress constructively, process emotions, and reframe thoughts.

Depression Many factors contribute to depression, including brain chemistry imbalance, genetics, family history, trauma, and grief or loss. Depression symptoms such as persistent sadness and sensations of dread or doom can leave a child feeling lost and entertaining thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

If your teen is harming themselves or having suicide ideation, seek help immediately. Counseling is a way to help your child express their emotions and manage depression symptoms while getting to the root cause behind the mental condition.

Eating disorders Adolescence is a season when eating disorders can begin as teens compare their changing bodies to those of their peers and cultural ideals. The most common eating disorders are anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating.

Disordered eating is a pattern of eating outside of what is considered normal, such as severely limiting how much one eats, cutting out entire food groups, or exercising to control weight. Eating disorders can lead to permanent health conditions and, in the case of anorexia or bulimia, even death if left untreated.

Academic issues Anxiety and depression can cause children to lose interest in activities they used to enjoy and the future they once saw for themselves. Their grades may begin to slip, and they may adopt an I-don’t-care attitude. Teachers may complain that they no longer participate in class or turn in assignments.

Your child may struggle with other conditions that contribute to academic issues, like ADHD or autism. Counseling can help root out the cause of these issues and set your teen back on the path toward high school graduation and beyond.

Behavioral issues Lashing out at others has consequences, yet teens may be unable to grasp the ramifications. Hitting, breaking things, and confrontations are behavioral issues that need to be addressed by an authority figure immediately.

Other types of behavioral problems like defying parents, wearing obscene clothing, or getting tattooed or pierced may be a sign of attention. Behavioral issues go much deeper and can lead to substance abuse, assault, theft, or self-harm. Teen counseling is a safe place for your child to express their emotions and learn how to control their behavior.

Drug and alcohol abuse Regardless of whether teens view the behavior as permissible due to what they have seen from family members or friends, drug and alcohol use will cause physical, mental, emotional, academic, and relationship problems.

Substances can alter brain chemistry, and in a developing brain, they can lead to problems with cognitive function, brain volume, and neural pathways. Anxiety, depression, and paranoia can also develop. If you or your teen struggle with addiction, reach out to a counselor. Family and teen counseling is available.

Child abuse Child abuse can follow an individual for the rest of their lives. The nightmare may still haunt these children into their adolescent years. Unable to change what happened or confront their abusers, teens may develop a tough exterior at one extreme or isolate themselves, withdrawing from everyone at the other extreme. Teens still in an abusive situation need help immediately, and counseling should be sought to start the healing process.

Grief and trauma Loss at a young age can mold a child’s thinking and view of oneself. Grief and trauma are challenging for anyone to process, especially children who may still lack the ability to understand. Grief and trauma are outside of their control, and teens may look for ways to hide their pain.

Sometimes, this can lead to substance abuse, depression, self-harm, or suicide. Teens struggling with grief need a professional they can talk with and share the burden, who can also lead them through the healing process.

Coping skills and emotional resilience Although we have heard the saying that children are resilient, their brains are still developing, and they may lack the control and coping skills to bounce back after disappointment or loss in a healthy way. Counseling teaches coping skills and helps to build emotional resilience.

You need both the skills and the resiliency to move past problems throughout adulthood without turning to harmful behaviors. Teens practice the coping mechanisms and report to the counselor to discuss any changes that need to be made until the child can manage this independently.

Counseling for Teenagers in Seattle

Teen counseling is available in Seattle, Washington through in-person or virtual sessions. Contact our office today at Seattle Christian Counseling to schedule an assessment. We are here to connect you to a Christian counselor specializing in teen therapy. Get started today.