How to deal with a difficult teenager

Are you feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, worried, sad or at your wits end about your teenager and their behavior? Have you been trying many different things to get your child on the right track? It may be time to get some outside help. Even if you think they’re acting out just to get attention, teenagers need counseling or therapy when any one of the following is present:

“When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better.”

Unknown

•    Alcohol and/or drug abuse
•    Long-standing academic decline
•    Frequent truancy
•    Isolation from peers over a long period of time
•    Poor self-esteem
•    Repeated defiance of parents’ rules and limits
•    Any verbal reference to wanting to hurt or kill him or herself
•    Any self-harming gesture
•    Any eating disorder
•    Any other long-standing, disturbing behavior

A teenager’s world can often be dramatic and hidden. Therapy can help the teenager sort through thoughts and feelings to make choices that work better for him or herself. Sometimes the work involves coordinating with the school system. Sometimes, working with the whole family is helpful so everyone can begin to enjoy each other’s company again.

As a parent, you are in a key position to help your child go out in to the world feeling confident and compassionate and able to navigate the twists and turns of life. Finding a counselor that you trust can be an important tool in this process.

I have years of experience dealing with just these kinds of issues. Contact me for more information.