ADOLESCENTS

Psychotherapy for Teens and Young Adults.

Not only are your bodies rapidly changing, but your brains are busy rewiring too. Resent research shows that this amazing process is not complete until you are in your early to mid-twenties. You face challenges today, that were not experienced in previous generations, yet you are somehow expected to do well in everything, make sensible choices, think about consequences to your behaviour and live with other people’s rules and expectations of you, on a daily basis.

Therapy can be a great place to vent your frustrations, and to learn a little more about yourself. Together, we can establish some strategies, and come up with some tools, to help you better cope with the pressures that you may be facing.

Let me help you to:

  • Reduce anxiety and frustration
  • Formulate achievable and satisfying goals
  • Build self-reliance and resilience
  • Build and maintain healthy relationships
  • Regulate your emotions
  • Manage your anger
  • Use social media wisely and effectively
  • Incorporate mindfulness into your daily life

 

PARENTS OF TEENS

Adolescence is a particularly challenging stage of development, for both parents and their teens. It requires a sensitivity to your teenager’s emerging need for autonomy, whilst balancing their continuing need for connectedness. Today’s teenagers face complex issues that we did not experience in our own youth, and these can result in emotional distress. The pressure they feel to seek “perfection”, is further fuelled by the constant presence of social media.

Your teen is entering a phase of rapid brain re-wiring that, research has shown, continues until their early to mid-twenties. During this time, your teen is looking for support as they seek independence, in a framework that provides structure, safety and connection. Yet, this is all occurring at a time when tension can quickly escalate between you and your teen.

You want what is best for your teen, just as you did when they were babies and young children, but it can be difficult to know how to handle the challenges that arise. I can help guide you, sharing strategies and providing support in a number of ways.

Let me help you to:

  • Increase cooperation and a positive home environment
  • Collaboratively problem solve
  • Establish routines and structure
  • Positively reinforce
  • Actively listen and communication
  • Validate how your teen feels