Pediatric Behavioral Health

Teen life, for many teens they express feeling as they though have one foot in the adult world as they start to gain independence and one foot in the child world as they are still developing the skills necessary to be completely independent. Teens are solidifying their identity at this stage. Teens also start to navigate more complex social relationship and many start dating. With younger children, the parent relationship takes center stage and with teens peer relationships take top billing. Teens begin to look to their peers as role models for appropriate behavior, which can be helpful when they are given opportunities to be around prosocial peers. Enjoy this time with your teen, it can be amazing to see the unexpected talents that come out and the increase in insight.

Potential Challenges:

Teenagers face many challenges as they develop into young adults. They face added responsibility and independence. Balancing new expectations can be extremely difficult for some teens. They can easily place more priority on testing the limits of their independence and neglect the responsibilities that come along with this freedom. As their brains are developing, they may exhibit poor judgement and decision making abilities. They have difficulty acknowledging how their behaviors impact themselves and others. Some teens may began to engage in risky behaviors such as substance use, sex, and self-harm. Puberty also affects all of these factors and can increase moodiness in most every teen. The physical changes happening in their bodies may lead to confusion around sexuality and gender identity. They may begin to struggle with confidence and positive self-image. While navigating all of these changes, teens are heavily influenced by their peers. They began to care about impressing others and fitting in.They attempt to find their identity while receiving pressure from social media, judgmental peers, relationships, family, academic expectations, and more. Some teens may drastically change their clothes and appearance, try new music, and trade out friend groups. Distinguishing when these challenges are normal and when they become problematic can be difficult for parents. Below are some signs that these normal challenges may be significant issues for your child.

Signs They May Need Therapy:

While being moody and irritable is typical of teens, when these behaviors become severe it could be indicative of some significant issues.
When your teen begins to show these signs, it may be time to consider therapy:

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly everyday,
• Diminished interest in favorite activities,
• Significant changes in weight
• Problems sleeping,
• Social isolation,
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Difficulty concentrating,
• or thoughts of death or suicide, there may be a need for professional help.

While stress can occur with added school pressure, when teens begin to experience excessive worry that is difficult to control, restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle tension, or sleep disturbance, these are signs that there may be a more serious issue than typical stress. You know your child more than anyone. If you notice a change in behavior that is out of the ordinary, or that raises a red flag for you, seek professional help.

What Can Counseling Do?

Our therapists are trained to assess and diagnose teens with a variety of disorders. They can collaborate with your teen to identify possible barriers and strategies to overcome them. They will work with your teen to set developmentally appropriate goals in order to address problematic behaviors. Our therapists can help your teen learn coping strategies that are evidenced based. These coping strategies will aid your teen in dealing with the challenges they face daily. Our therapists use Cognitive Behavioral strategies, Motivational Interviewing strategies, and a wide range of other best practices to address all sorts of diagnoses.The therapist can also work with your teenager on building communication and problem-solving skills. If the interventions being utilized are not working for your teen, our therapists will work with your teen to modify the plan of treatment to ensure success. We are also beginning to provide group therapy in which teens can form friendships and learn from one another.