Providing Teens With The Support They Need
Adolescence is a time of significant change and transition. As kids enter their teens they are faced with an onslaught of shifting roles, expectations, academic demands, and social pressures — all while trying to figure out their own sense of self. The struggles of adolescence can lead to feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, and shame.
It is not just the adolescent who is impacted by this turbulent time. It can be equally challenging for parents to know how to best support their teen through this process. A safe space for exploring themselves and the difficulties they are dealing with is often exactly the type of support a teen needs. Here at the office of Kelly Mothner, Ph.D, my aim as a therapist for adolescents is to create a safe space for them to open up about what is going on in their lives, without fear of judgment or ridicule.
Is Therapy Right For You?
Adolescents come to see me to deal with a variety of issues that are impacting their overall well-being. They may be struggling with the pressures and anxiety of increasingly difficult academic and social demands or facing the pain and loss surrounding their parents’ divorce. Others may be experiencing feelings of hopelessness and depression and some may simply be feeling alone in their struggle and want an unbiased listener.
Working successfully with adolescents requires finding a balance between providing them a safe space that is truly theirs, while involving parents and other family members, as necessary, in the service of the teen’s growth and development.
Before diving into therapy, it is crucial that both the teen and his/her parents determine whether I am the right fit. During our preliminary session, I will gain an understanding of what challenges and stressors you (or your teen) are facing, and together we can decide how to move forward. Below are just a few examples of the types of issues that often bring teens into see me:
- Depression: If you find yourself feeling down, irritable, withdrawn, or having suicidal ideations, these may be symptoms of depression. In therapy, my goal would be to help you develop effective ways of coping while exploring and addressing the underlying issues that are contributing to these symptoms.
- Anxiety: If your day-to-day worries intensify to the point where they negatively affect your daily life, or if you’ve developed intense irrational fears or self-consciousness, you may be experiencing anxiety. Together, we can develop tools to more effectively stop these unwanted, negative thought patterns and help you regain a sense of peace and well-being.
- Stress: It is often the teenage years when people can begin to feel high-intensity stress. Through mindfulness practices, meditation practices and stress reduction techniques, we can work towards a more balanced, calm mind.
- Substance Abuse: Drug and alcohol abuse can become serious problems in the teenage years, and if not addressed properly, can follow you into your adult years. If you are ready to make the change, we can work out an achievable plan that will best support and encourage your health in both the short and long-term.
- Behavioral Problems: If your feelings and emotions are causing you to act aggressively, get suspended from school, act out, or lash out, we can work to undercover the core problems and create a plan for behavior change from there.
- Low Self-Esteem: Low self-esteem can arise from specific experiences, or can come seemingly out of the blue. We will address the intricacies of these issues and work to help you gain a stronger sense of self.
- Trauma: Whether it is sexual assault, or a near-death experience, in therapy we will process the emotional and psychological impact of the trauma with the ultimate goal of enhancing your resilience and overall well-being.
- Grief: The loss of a loved one can be particularly difficult during adolescence. In therapy, I provide a safe space for you to sort out your feelings and make sense of your loss.
Take The First Step Towards A Happier, Healthier Adolescence
I provide therapy to teens, adults, and couples who live in the South Bay region, including Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and El Segundo, CA. I take pride in the safe space and warm, open environment that I provide for my clients. If you have any other questions, or if you would like to schedule your initial appointment, please give me a call at (310) 892- 2572, or reach out to me on my contact page. I look forward to working with you!