Teen Counseling in Fuquay Varina, NC, Raleigh, NC, and Wake Forest, NC
Do you feel like you don’t know your teen anymore? Have you almost given up on being able to communicate with them? Do you worry about their mental health? Some of this is relatively normal as teenagers mature and go through a new and challenging phase of life. But if the problems feel more extreme, even unsolvable, then it may be time to get help.
Reasons Teenagers
Start Counseling
The teenage years are full of change and transformation. This is why as many as 20 percent of teens will experience depression by the time they reach adulthood. One phase of life is ending, another is beginning. Uncertainty about that new phase of life and about the future in general can lead to enormous amounts of anxiety, which can in turn lead to a large variety of behaviors.
Because of the uncertainty of the teen years, there are a variety of reasons they might benefit from working with a therapist.
If your teen exhibits or has experienced any of the following, it may help to make an appointment with a therapist:
Mental health concerns ranging from relatively normal feelings of depression to more severe issues, such as suicidal ideation
Dealing with a traumatic experience
Conflict with parents or siblings
A drop in grades or change in behavior at school
Unsafe life choices or experimentations with drugs and alcohol
Fearful behaviors, trouble sleeping, not wanting to go to school or anxiety
NOTE: Any reference to suicide needs to be taken extremely seriously. If you are worried about your child’s safety, take them to the nearest emergency room for an evaluation. Additionally, the National Suicide Hotline offers 24-hour suicide prevention support at 1-800-273-8255.
Teen Therapy and Confidentiality
It is likely that there are things your teenager is experiencing or thinking about that they are not sharing with you, as their parent or guardian. This, of course, creates a complicated question for therapists since parents want to know how therapy is going, and teens need to be able to trust their therapist with sensitive information if therapy is to be effective at all.
For this reason, therapists will in the vast majority of cases keep secrets shared during a session in confidence. Generally, this means that your teen or their therapist may say what general topics are being discussed, such as anxiety or family relationships, but not divulge any details of the conversation. In some cases, they may share even less than that.
There are exceptions to confidentiality, however. Therapists will always inform parents of suicidal ideation or intent. If the teen poses a physical danger to themselves or to others, parents will be informed. Finally, confidentiality can be broken when minors report being abused or neglected. If you have questions about confidentiality, it is best to bring those up at the first session with your therapist.
Counseling and Faith
In addition to our other services, Foundations Family Therapy also provides Christian counseling services if that is desired.
Next
Steps
The next step to finding help for your teen is to schedule an appointment with one of our therapists. We have offices in Raleigh, Fuquay Varina, and Wake Forest. In addition to teen therapy, we also offer family therapy. We are here to help your teen thrive and grow into a healthy young adult.
How to Get Started
1
Find a Therapist
If you’re not sure who to pick, reach out to us directly. We’ll help you find a good fit!
2
Book an Appointment
Use our easy online booking system or call us to schedule a time that works for you.
3
Move Towards Your Goals
We’ll put together a therapy schedule and plan to help you or your loved one thrive.
