If you have considered counseling for your personal development, you know it is an investment in your well-being and mental and emotional health. Recognizing where your relationships have veered off course and learning skills to help those relationships thrive are why counseling matters in your life. However, what about counseling for teens?

Counseling for teens matters too. It’s important not to minimize the impact counseling can have on your teen, even if you feel he or she has no “real problems.” Before signing on to counseling for teens, it’s essential to uncover the myths about teen counseling, understand how it works, and get to the root of why counseling can help your teen.

Myths about Counseling for Teens

Counseling is only for teens who have experienced a significant loss or trauma.

One of the standard arguments against counseling for teens is that many teens haven’t gone through a traumatic event or experienced a devastating loss. Parents, coaches, or teachers may look at teens’ emotional state as an indicator of their hormone levels more than their mental health.

Counseling for teens is a long-term commitment.

Another myth is that a teen signs on with a trusted therapist or counselor for as many years as he or she is living at home. If your teen is twelve, that’s another six years – a long time. However, many teens benefit from just a handful of sessions with a trained, experienced counselor who has worked before with their age group.

Teens will not be receptive to seeing a counselor.

Parents know their kids, and many believe they don’t have the kind of teen that would welcome therapy. But when put in the proper perspective, many teens would jump at the chance to be listened to and to have their struggles validated.

How does counseling for teens work?

If you have seen a counselor, you may think of that type of counseling and wonder if it would feel intimidating to your teen. However, many types of counseling can benefit a teen. Trained professionals – licensed counselors – who have experience with teens can offer multiple kinds of counseling. It just depends on what the teen’s needs are.

Typically, when a teen goes to counseling, it begins with a phone call to schedule an appointment, and looking at what insurance plan you have to see if the counselor you’ve chosen is covered. If you are worried about finances, many counseling practices offer a sliding scale fee based on income.

Once your teen heads to the first appointment, he or she can expect to complete some basic paperwork (or a parent may be asked to complete it). Next, the therapist asks questions about what the teen’s everyday life is like.

They may talk about hobbies and classmates, friendships, and eventually, emotions. Getting information at the first session can help a counselor understand what the teen’s goals are and if they’re the right fit for each other.

A teen does not need to be afraid of oversharing or of being forced to share something he doesn’t want to talk about. Phrases such as “I don’t know” or “I haven’t thought about it” are acceptable. And if your teen decides the counselor isn’t a great match, it is also more than okay to ask to see a different counselor after the first visit.

Professional counselors, such as those in our offices, understand that finding a counselor you feel comfortable talking to is vital – even more concerning counseling for teens.

Once you have found a counselor your teen likes, it is essential to ask some basic questions. These might include:

• How many years of experience do you have working with teens?
• What are the goals of my teen’s counseling?
• About how long will my teen see you regularly?
• What kind of counseling will be best for my teen?
• Is family counseling something you recommend for us?

Don’t be afraid to ask to speak to the counselor and schedule an appointment just for that. It helps the therapist know you’re interested in supporting your teen’s mental health.

Getting to the root of the issue

When your teen sees a counselor, he or she will help your teen begin to understand what the root of their issues are. These can involve simple friendship and relational struggles or a severe mental health diagnosis. However, no teen is beyond help, and many teens find that therapy works.

Group therapy, family counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and interpersonal psychotherapy are all different subsets of counseling that can help your teen understand why he or she is struggling.

Understanding the root of the issue opens up a world of exploring how to heal, what healthy relationships look like, and learning coping mechanisms to help teens now and later in life. If your teen would benefit from therapy at Santa Monica Christian Counseling, we can help. Contact our office today.