Teen Counseling
Adolescent Therapists Helping Teens Cope with
Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, and More
Raising a teenager in today's world comes with its own set of challenges. Social pressures, academic demands, and the ever-present influence of technology can all contribute to stress, anxiety, and emotional turmoil in teens. If you've noticed your teen struggling with low mood, irritability, changes in sleep or appetite, or difficulty concentrating, you're not alone. These are all common signs that your teen may benefit from counseling with a licensed therapist.
At Sweetgrass Therapy, we understand the unique challenges that teens face. Our qualified therapists create a safe and supportive space for teens to explore their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. Through evidence-based therapeutic approaches, we help teens develop healthy coping mechanisms, improve communication skills, and build resilience.
Why Teens Start Counseling
Anxiety & Panic Attacks
Anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and OCD can disrupt your teen's daily functioning. This can include physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate, difficulty concentrating, headaches, and insomnia. Your teen may also notice their mind is filled with worries and preoccupied with the 'worst case scenario'. Effective science-based interventions will help your adolescent resolve these issues quickly and for the long-term.
Depression & Suicidal Thoughts
Depression is more than just feeling sad or melancholy. Your teen may struggle to get enough sleep (insomnia), or sleep too much (hypersomnia). They might also say "I don't feel anything, I'm numb" and have trouble enjoying fun activities. Isolation is also a common sign of depression in teens. Our experienced therapists are ready to help your adolescent overcome depression.
Family Problems & Stress
Some teenagers can be especially disturbed by problems or changes within the family system. Divorce, major illness, problems with siblings, and more can cause changes in mood and behavior for your adolescent child. The guidance of a licensed therapist may be just what you and your teenager need to work through these challenges.
Non-Suicidal Self-Harm
Self-harm is a common (but nonetheless disturbing) struggle for teens. There are many reasons 'why' a teenager will engage in cutting, or a similar behavior. Working with a counselor can help your teen stop these behaviors, and cope with problems in a healthier manner.
Eating Disorders
Disordered eating is a complex, but treatable issue among adolescents. The factors that contribute to eating disorders are many and varied, and a qualified counselor can help effectively address this struggle to help your teen find freedom from negative cycles.
Traumatic Events
Unfortunately, frightening and potentially life-threatening events can happen to young people. If your teen has experienced a traumatic event, they may suffer from post-traumatic symptoms such as depressed or anxious mood, nightmares, flashbacks, and more. Professional psychological support is essential for their recovery.
How Therapy Helps Teens
Improved Emotional Regulation
Your teenager will learn how to manage their emotions more effectively through short-term coping skills, and long-term strategies. An emotionally balanced teenager is more confident and in-control of their daily lives.
Increased Self-Awareness
Counseling will help teenagers become more self-aware by exploring their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By understanding themselves better, teenagers can identify patterns in their behavior that may be causing problems and develop strategies to change these patterns.
Enhanced Communication
Teens will develop better decision-making skills by helping them weigh the pros and cons of different choices. And consider the potential consequences. This can be especially important for teenagers who may be facing important decisions such as college choices, career decisions, or relationships.
Our Approach to Teen Therapy
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CBT focuses on the relationship between a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It works by helping teens identify and challenge negative thought patterns that contribute to their anxiety or depression. By using various techniques, such as cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation, CBT can help individuals develop more positive and adaptive ways of thinking and behaving. This results in improved mental health and well-being.
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Art therapy, music therapy, and dance/movement therapy, can be powerful tools for helping teenagers cope with anxiety, depression, and trauma. They provide a creative outlet for expressing and processing complex emotions and experiences that may be difficult to articulate verbally. Teenagers can gain a sense of control and mastery over their feelings, which can lead to increased self-awareness, improved emotional regulation, and reduced symptoms.
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Family counseling is an opportunity for open communication and problem-solving within the family unit. It helps teenagers and their families identify and address patterns of behavior and communication that may be contributing to conflict. Through the guidance of a skilled counselor, families can learn to develop more effective communication and coping skills. This leads to improved relationships, better emotional regulation, and increased resilience in teenagers.
Starting Counseling is Simple
Fill out the New Client Form
It only takes a minute & starts the new client on-boarding process. We make it easy!
Schedule Your 1st Session
Our team will reach out ASAP to schedule the first session with your counselor.
Celebrate Your Growth
Enjoy lasting change! The Sweetgrass Way is all about your enduring health and happiness.
Blogs for Teenage Mental Health
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Breaking the Stigma: Let's Talk About Therapy for Teens
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6 Tips for Parents: How to Help Your Anxious Teen
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A Journey to Wholeness: Christian Counseling for Teens
What’s holding you back from getting help for your child?
▲ Fear of Labeling - “I don’t want my child to be labeled for their entire life”
Your concern for your child's bright future makes total sense. They're so young, and they have many years of success ahead of them. When working with our counselors, you'll have the opportunity to work through this fear in an open and honest conversation. Our therapists are very discerning when diagnosing children with mental health disorders.
▲ Cost of Services - “I’m not sure insurance will cover this”
Thankfully, most insurance plans include mental healthcare as a covered service. Depending on your plan, counseling for your child may only cost as much as a regular copay for an office visit. Our office will research your insurance coverage once you onboard as a new client. So, you'll have an accurate estimate for what therapy will cost per visit. If you have questions about insurance, you can visit out Fees & Insurance page here.
▲ Stigma and Shame - “What will they think of me as a parent?”
Our experienced and compassionate counselors understand that mental health issues are not your fault. Mental and emotional wellbeing depends on so many factors, and some that are totally out of our control. Instead of finding blame, professional mental health counseling is about helping you and your child navigate roadblocks with confidence and resilience.
▲ Lack of Trust - “I’ve heard some bad stories from other parents”
We're always sorry to hear about previous negative counseling experiences from our clients. Please know that it's our ethical duty to provide effective counseling in a highly professional manner to all clients, at all times. If you have any questions or concerns, please bring them to your therapist or our Practice Manager. We are more than happy to help you gain trust and confidence in the counseling process while working with Sweetgrass Therapy.
FAQs
❋ Can counseling sessions be online?
Yes. You may meet with your counselor via an online video call, instead of coming into the office. The Telehealth service we use is a secure online platform that is easily accessible. You can meet exclusively with your therapist online, or have a mix of in-person and Telehealth sessions. This is totally up to you and your unique needs.
❋ How long do I need to be in therapy?
The length of therapy can vary based on individual needs and goals. Some people may find that a few months of therapy is enough, while others may benefit from ongoing sessions over a longer period of time. Everyone is different, and each person's life has a variety of factors that will influence the course of treatment. We encourage clients to talk to their counselor about the frequency of meetings, how best to use time between sessions, and set time to measure progress. This can all help you get a better sense of how therapy is working for you over time. And it might help you understand when you want to reduce the frequency of sessions, terminate completely, or continue.
❋ Will insurance cover the cost of counseling?
Yes. Health insurance coverage includes mental health services such as outpatient counseling from Sweetgrass Therapy. In some cases, your therapy visits may only be cost of a copay. Our office will research your insurance coverage and get a "quote of benefits" for counseling for you before the first session. In this way, you can understand how to use your health insurance for counseling.
Finally, we're in-network with 3 major insurance companies - Aetna and BlueCross BlueShield.
❋ Will my therapist keep my information private & confidential?
Yes, mental health professionals are bound by confidentiality laws and are ethically obligated to keep your information private. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as if you pose a danger to yourself or others.
❋ What are my counselors qualifications and background?
Every therapist in our group has a Master's degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. This degree means that we are all trained in general mental health treatment (anxiety, depression, etc) and relationships (couples, families, groups). In addition to learning theory, our therapists have professional experience (client work) that was obtained during the education progress.
And more importantly, we’ve helped hundreds of clients work through mental health and relationship issues.
Our therapists are all licensed to practice mental health care in the state of Illinois. MFT licenses require continued education on a 2 year renewal cycle.
You may also ask your therapist about other parts of their background and qualifications. You may be interested to learn more about their professional experience in other fields or roles!
