FAITH-BASED
Counseling for Teenagers
Therapy appointments available in South Tampa or online throughout Florida
How do I know if I should get my teenager help from a professional Christian Counselor in Tampa, FL?
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), here are some signs that your teenager may need professional counseling:
They lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy
They have low energy
They have difficulty sleeping or eating
They spend more time alone and avoid social activities
They excessively exercise, diet, and/or binge eat
They harm themselves (e.g., burning or cutting their skin)
They use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
They engage in risky or destructive behavior
They have thoughts of suicide
They think their mind is being controlled or is out of control or hear things other people cannot hear
Here are some other signs your teen may be struggling:
Teenagers go through an incredible amount of changes in a short period of time. It can be disorienting for parents to try and understand why the person who used to voluntarily hold their hand in the mall now hardly makes eye contact with them. It is also confusing for teenagers to understand the enormous emotional and psychological shifts that are happening in these years. Even if your child is not dealing with a major mental health episode, there are other, more subtle signs that your teenager may be struggling and could benefit from professional counseling in Tampa, FL:
Do they no longer hang out with the friends they used to enjoy? Changes in a group of friends is not necessarily negative, but can be very hard for a teenager to process. Understanding the reasons for these kinds of shifts can be confusing and they may need some objective help navigating a change like this.
Do they spend more time than ever on their phones? Do they struggle to set and keep limits on screen time? If you try to set limits on screen time and they cannot keep them, they may be dealing with a phone addiction and need help from a professional counselor to break out of this. Phones are designed to make us addicted to them and the teenage brain is far more susceptible to addiction than the fully formed adult brain.
Have you noticed a shift in their demeanor? Some things are only noticeable to those who know us the best. If you notice that your teen has become more edgy or withdrawn, and they are struggling to articulate or understand a reason for this change, maybe talking with a trained and objective professional can help them.
Is your teen struggling to manage the heavy weight of pressure placed on them? Today’s teenagers face extraordinary and unprecedented pressure to succeed. Some of this is because of the influence of social media, but also, teenagers are expected to take more advanced courses than any generation before them in order to get into college. It has never been more competitive for a high school student to earn acceptance into a state university that it is today. If your teen is feeling overwhelmed by the expectations placed on them, they are not alone and counseling can help them to build positive coping skills for managing the stress they carry.
What if I (the parent) am the one struggling while raising my teenager?
We are here to help! Raising a teenager is today’s world is incredibly challenging and can be painful and frightening. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the weight of it, you are not alone, and we are here to help you navigate the hard decisions and sometimes exhausting experience of raising a modern teen. Our therapists can help you learn to manage your own stress more effectively so that you can be a more present and effective parent to your teen.
How do I get started?
Our Christian counselors are ready to see you at our office in South Tampa or virtually. They are trained to offer help to both the parent and teen.
Book an appointment with Jess O’Neil, MSW today!
The teenage experience is challenging, but we can help!
The teenage and adolescent experience has become increasingly complicated in recent years. The teenage experience has been profoundly impacted by cultural shifts and most notably by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of social media. The teenage experience is vastly different from the teenage experience that parents had at times it can be hard for parents to understand or relate to the stress that modern teenagers face. We can help! Our trained Christian counselors in Tampa, FL are available to help parents navigate the complexities of the experience of raising teenagers and are also available to work with teenagers who are struggling.
