Kris Coppedge, LMHC, LICSW

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Parenting Teens      

 

Counseling for Teens

 

 

 

Why is it hard to be a teen? 

 

     Adolescence is a time of rapid physical, emotion, and social change.  Young people must deal with the normal challenges of increased responsibilities and greater independence.  While every generation has had its unique issues, today's young people are often especially anxious about their ability to survive as adults given these hard economic times.  The cost of higher education is rapidly increasing, many parents are less able to afford to pay the high costs of college, jobs are less available and the competition greater. 

 

     Well-being is related to a person's genetics and temparament, parenting and family life, life events, and physical and emotional health.  Problems can stem from traumatic events, normal life challenges, and even from our own thoughts.

 

Symptoms that might indicate a need for counseling:

 

   

Mood

  • Severity and intensity of mood
  • Duration of sadness, grief, anxiety, or depression
  • Impact of mood on school performance
  • Impact of mood on family and peer relationships
  • Changes in attitude or behavior related to mood
  • A change in the degree of nervousness or fear
  • Any talk of self-harm or suicidal talk or plans
  • Any signs of cutting or other self-harm behaviors
  • Any sudden, unexplainable change in mood

 

Thoughts

  • Self-blaming or excessive guilt
  • Decrease in confidence
  • Negative talk about self
  • Dwelling or obsessing on a thought or an issue
  • Hopelessness or apathy
  • Excessive worries about weight, size, or shape
  • Decrease in ability to concentrate or focus

 

Behavior

  • Sudden changes in behavior patterns
  • Excessive sleep or tiredness
  • Lack of ability or desire to sleep
  • Decline in school performance
  • Decline in cooperation at home
  • Withdrawn or avoidant behavior
  • Excessive tardies or absences at school
  • A change in peer group that seems to relate to behavior problems
  • Signs of drug or alcohol use or abuse

 

Self-Care

  • Loss of concern about appearance
  • Refusal or unusual resistance to bathing
  • Restricting food or drink
  • Hiding food or eating in secret
  • Sudden changes in cleanliness standards for bedroom