Adolescent Therapy

The adolescent years should be a time of newfound independence and confident exploration. However, for many teenagers, navigating the challenges of adolescence and the transition to adulthood can be intense and confusing. Anxiety is a common and often overwhelming response to these pressures, especially when symptoms of distress are difficult to understand or express.

In my experience, many teenagers struggle to articulate how they feel because they lack the language or insight to fully grasp what they’re going through. Anxiety in adolescents can present in many ways, including behavioural changes, withdrawal from family, avoiding social situations or activities they once enjoyed, and a fear of judgment. Physical symptoms are also common—racing heart, headaches, stomach pain, nausea, muscle tension, and trouble sleeping.

Over the years, I’ve found that beginning with psychoeducation is incredibly beneficial. Helping teenagers understand how their brain works offers them insight into their internal experience and normalises what they’re feeling. A certain level of anxiety is natural—it keeps us focused and safe—but chronic or intense anxiety can keep the body stuck in fight, flight, or freeze mode. When left unmanaged, it can interfere with a young person’s goals, fuel perfectionism, and lead to avoidance of feared situations.

A Safe and Supportive Environment

Adolescent counselling provides a safe space for teens to explore difficult thoughts and emotions while learning healthy coping tools. Building a strong therapeutic relationship is foundational—trust, safety, and confidentiality are essential for progress to occur. What a young person shares in therapy remains confidential and will not be shared without their permission. The only exception is if there is a safety concern, which will be clearly explained in the first session.

Support in therapy involves being heard and understood. An empathetic ear and the validation of their experiences can help teens feel seen and accepted—often for the first time.

How therapy can help Adolescents

Adolescents and their parents face a unique set of challenges. Some common issues addressed in therapy include:

  • Social integration at school
  • Social media pressure
  • Bullying and peer influence
  • Trauma
  • Mood swings
  • Isolation and withdrawal from the family
  • Puberty and body image
  • Generalised and social anxiety
  • Panic attacks
  • Stress
  • Sexual orientation exploration
  • Academic pressure
  • Relationship difficulties
  • Uncertainty about the future
  • Lack of motivation and procrastination
  • Unhealthy coping behaviours

Emotional Regulation: The ability to manage emotions effectively can be especially difficult for teens—particularly those dealing with developmental disabilities, mood disorders, OCD, eating disorders, or addiction.

Self-Worth and Self-Compassion: Low self-esteem can contribute to depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Therapy helps adolescents build self-compassion and inner kindness, laying the foundation for stronger self-worth and resilience.

Coping Strategies

During my counselling sessions with adolescents I teach them healthy coping skills to navigate struggles they may be facing.  These coping strategies will also equip them to manage a lifetime of personal challenges and triggers.  Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is one of the most popular evidenced based therapies, based on the idea that our thoughts and emotions are intrinsically linked to our behaviour.  CBT can help adolescents identify negative thoughts and behaviour patterns and replace with more healthier and productive ones.  CBT can be tailored to the unique developmental needs and concerns of each teenager as it is so individually driven.  Other modalities that can be tailored to individual needs and personal circumstances include Psychoeducation, Collaborative Therapy Approach, Solution Focused Therapy and Mindfulness Techniques.

Parental Involvement

Sending your child to counselling is a way of letting them know that you see their distress and want to support them in whatever challenges they are facing.  This is a difficult time for you the parent or caregiver as well, especially when your child won’t talk to you about what they are struggling with.  Parents often talk to me about feeling a disconnection and are at a loss as to how to help their teenager.  Teenagers also need your support but will still try to push the boundaries and may adapt unhelpful coping mechanisms to push through their distress.  It is always my belief that my adolescent clients would benefit from their parents/caregivers attending some of the sessions.  Whilst your child is my client I like to also support you the parent/carer, and my therapy room can be a great opportunity for me to facilitate rupture repair, problem solving and better communication.  Please refer to my tab on Family Counselling.

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