For parents and teens alike, the idea of counselling can often be an intimidating one. They may think it’s not for them, that there’s no benefit. Some may even feel that there’s a stigma or shame around it. This couldn’t be further than the truth. In fact, counselling in adolescence can actually prevent issues later in life and provide your teen with a healthy set of life skills. Let’s look at some of the benefits of teen counselling.
Counselling helps teens feel listened to
No matter what stage of life we’re at, we all want to feel listened to, understood and valued. Our adolescent and pre-adolescent years are no exception to this. With all the changes going on, teens can become overwhelmed and frustrated if they feel not being listened to. Counselling can offer kids a safe, supportive environment where teens can discuss their feelings without fear of judgement.
Coping with change – counselling can help
The adolescent years are perhaps the most drastic period of change in a person’s life. They mark the gradual transition from childhood to adulthood. It’s a long process, sometimes full of anxiety and confusion. The thoughts, feelings and fears that may arise may not always be something that they feel comfortable talking to their parents about. Counselling can help kids and teens cope with these changes and the feelings that may arise from them, with the assurance of a trustworthy adult who’ll guarantee them confidence and respect.
Counselling can help teens cope with anxiety, depression and other problems
A massive benefit of counselling for teens is that it can help them cope with mental health issues such as anxiety and/or depression (among many others). Parents often feel ill-equipped to help their children cope with mental health issues on their own. Counselling can offer hope to kids and teens already suffering, while it can also help them with small problems before they become big ones. The therapist’s office is a safe, confidential environment where teens can freely talk about their issues with a trustworthy expert. Teen counselling services help kids and adolescents work through these problems, develop coping mechanisms and discover their root causes. Counselling can also help prevent teens from resorting to unsafe coping mechanisms such as self-harm, for example.
School problems may be better tackled with counselling than through punishment
Problems at school are often indicative of other issues in the background. Perhaps an otherwise bright teen is struggling to perform academically. Maybe they’ve been involved in the fighting. Whatever the case, examining the issue and discovering its root cause is often a far more effective treatment than berating the teen. Parents may not often feel equipped (or want) to do this. Adolescent counselling services help children and teens discover what’s really causing these issues and allow them to develop more healthy ways of coping and overcoming them. All of this can be done in a safe, judgement-free environment. It’s far better to resolve these issues early than let them needlessly continue into adulthood.
Teens can gain a greater sense of independence by counselling
Adolescence is a time when many of us strive for more independence. As a parent, it can be a tricky balancing act. You may want to grant your teen more autonomy, but you also fear letting them go without guidance. Counselling can provide an ideal space where your teen can feel a sense of independence and examine their sense of identity, thoughts, and feelings. You can give them this independence while having confidence that a trustworthy adult still has oversight.
On the other hand, some teens and pre-adolescents may be intimidated by the idea of becoming independent. Teen counselling services can help them to get over this, again, in a safe, trustworthy environment.
Self-worth can be improved for teens through counselling
Untreated, a low sense of self-worth in adolescence can carry on into adulthood, affecting everything from their education to their career to their relationships. It can trigger other mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and eating disorders. A low sense of self-worth will also make a teen more susceptible to being taken advantage of in life or indulging in alcohol or drug abuse as a coping mechanism. Effective counselling can help adolescents to develop a healthy sense of self-worth. It can help teens pinpoint the triggers that cause these feelings and create healthy coping mechanisms while developing a greater understanding of self-worth. Adolescent counselling services provide a safe, confidential environment where teens and pre-teens can discuss how they feel about themselves and any negative self-talk that may arise.
Counselling can benefit adolescents in their family and other relationships
Effective counselling can provide teens with a greater appreciation of the connection between their feelings and the environments around them, be they family, school or other social groups. It can help them understand how their relationships with others can impact their own feelings and sense of self-worth. This can include exploring the family dynamic, their friendships or romantic relationships. It gives them a valuable set of skills for coping and understanding emotions and feelings that will serve them beyond their teenage years into adulthood.
These are just some of the benefits that counselling can have for adolescents and pre-adolescents. If you feel that your child could benefit from adolescent counselling services or are struggling with some of the above issues, please do get in touch with me for a consultation.
