The transition through the pre-teen and adolescent years is a tough one! Teens often experience confusion, peer pressure, family conflict, low self-esteem, and difficulty with decision making. It’s no surprise that many teens struggle during these transitions. My goal is to provide a collaborative, safe, and supportive atmosphere where adolescents can feel more comfortable opening up and discussing these challenging times.
Since the teenage years affect the whole family system, I often like to invite family members into session as well. My therapy approach is strength-based, supportive, non-judgemental, and collaborative to help your teenager and family to create sustainable solutions.
What to Expect from Teen Counseling
As a parent/guardian, your number one priority is the well-being, safety, and happiness of your child. With teen counseling, we attempt to achieve just that. Adolescent therapy focuses on the individual needs of your teen as assessed by the counselor, to assure their safety. It also explores the goals of your teen and family in order to improve mood, enhance coping skills, assertiveness, and more. The relationships your teen has with their peers, family, and self are also an essential focus of the therapeutic process.
Here are a few of the struggles I often help teens overcome:
- Cope with Anxiety
- Manage Peer Pressure
- School Stress
- Test Anxiety
- Establish Self-Confidence
- Enhance Self-Esteem
- Improve Communication Skills
- Setting Boundaries
- Managing Depression
- Anger Management
Questions & Concerns on Adolescent Therapy
How Long Will My Teen Be In Therapy?
At Brightside Therapy, my approach is personalized for your teenager, focusing on their needs, goals, and utilizing their personal strengths. I will work together with you and your teenager collaboratively to determine what the various needs and wants are from therapy, and work together diligently and efficiently to get your teen where they need to be. Your willingness and ability to support your teen in the therapeutic process can minimize the time needed in therapy, but the length of therapy is essentially your choice.
I’m not sure how to fit therapy in my schedule or how I’ll be able to afford it?
This is a common concern that people have when seeking therapy. I offer a flexible schedule that includes mornings, evenings, and weekend sessions by request to accommodate the high demands of parent’s work/life balance, school, and busy schedules.
Therapy is a financial commitment, however, there’s no better investment than investing in your teenager’s well-being, future, and emotional relief and support. Additionally, I am also willing to discuss need-based sliding scale options to allow adolescent therapy accessible to those in need on a case by case basis.
Does Insurance Cover Adolescent Therapy?
I do not accept insurance. However, I am an out of network provider, so if you would like to use your out of network insurance, I would be happy to provide a “superbill” for you to submit to your insurance company. This process is done with the intention that you receive reimbursement at that rate that is part of your plan. If this is something you would like to do, please let me know so we can talk about what to expect.
Is My Teen’s Counseling Confidential?
If your child is under the age of 18, you have a right to be informed on your teen’s therapeutic process. However, I practice a confidential approach with my teenage clients in order to increase trust, rapport, and essentially, allowing a greater opportunity for their progress and growth. If teenagers know that everything they say in the therapy is being communicated with their parents or guardians, it inevitably has a negative effect. They are much less likely to speak about issues that are private and important to them, therefore hindering their progress.
Limitations to this confidentiality are as follows:
– If the clinician determines the teenager to be at a high risk for suicide, severe self-harm, or homicide/the intent to harm others. The therapist will need to break confidentiality with the teen at this time in order to assure the safety of the teen and others. The necessary steps to keep the teenager and others safe will be taken.
– I am also legally mandated to report child abuse and neglect. If the teenager discloses any instances of child abuse or neglect a report is legally required to be made by the therapist to the Florida Child Abuse Hotline for further investigation by the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
Get Your Teen The Support They Deserve!
If you would like to learn more about Adolescent Counseling or want to schedule an appointment with me, call 954-391-5305 ext. 9 today. I offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to answer all of your questions, get to know you and your teen’s goals for their own therapy process, and help your teen get started on their Brightside Therapy journey today.
Our beautiful, uplifting, and motivating therapy offices located within Bayview Therapy is the perfect place for your teen to start their therapy journey. I look forward to speaking with you!