What’s Going On With My Teenager?
Your adolescent is going thru the last BIG change in their developmental life. They are facing major changes in their physical, emotional and cognitive development. This is a time when the Pre-Frontal Cortex (where all the executive functioning) has the biggest growth spurt ever. This area of the brain is connected to all other areas of the brain’s neural structures. This part of their brain is responsible for their impulse control, judgment, decision making (considering consequences), and empathy/compassion for others.
As a parent, you are experiencing your teenager’s need to separate and being away from home more. Your teen is moving towards being more of an individual, experimenting with authority, values and limits. You may be experiencing the very natural opposition, defiance withdrawal, self-centeredness and arrogance that comes with their development. These reasons alone make therapy a challenge; therefore, finding the RIGHT therapist is Imperative.
What Makes Us Different?
Your teenager may have been to therapy before, or maybe they hate the idea of coming to therapy. At Waves Counseling Services, LLC, we use expressive arts, play, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy approach, sand tray, and other modalities to help teenagers engage and be successful. We know their resistance, their use of denial, their distrust of adults, and their need for control are what make verbal therapy difficult, lengthier and less successful.
Teens who are seen at Waves Counseling Services, will…
Hate the idea at first
Love coming eventually
Grow and develop
Be affirmed and referred to in their chosen pronouns
Play, create and express
Improve decision making
Express themselves in healthier ways
Improve their self-esteem and self-worth
Be Empowered
Explore who they are
Heal
First Session
Sessions are typically 45-55 minutes in length. Your teenager needs to know their confidentiality is protected at the level yours is. During the first session, we will engage in activities that will help us to get to know one another. Any information that is shared will require the permission of your teenager. At Waves Counseling Services, LLC we are LGBTQIA affirming.
Family Participation
At Waves Counseling Services, LLC we strongly believe parents, caregivers and family need to be involved and are the experts. For your teenager to be successful it is important that you and your therapist communicate, partner and collaborate. Teens need you more now than ever; although, they will not tell you this. This is the time where they need you to help them find their way into adulthood. There will be times you will meet independently of your teenager, and other times where family therapy will be most appropriate. Your therapist is here as a resource and support.