Teen Counseling Santa Rosa CA

By Catherine Butler


Teenage years happen to be very challenging not only to teens but to parents as well. During this stage, teens face a lot of pressure as regards their growth and development. This is why they will on occasions require counseling so that they are able to cope with different problems and challenges. Parents are advised to keenly monitor teens to ensure they are not overwhelmed. In consideration of teen counseling Santa Rosa CA parents should be well versed with what is involved.

There are a number of instances in which counseling is needed. Divorce or separation can weigh down on teens in a serious way and they will need to be talked to. They are likely to struggle with challenges that are related to not having both parents staying together. They my develop emotions like guilt, regret or anger. Bereavement is also serious and might leave teenagers traumatized. This is more so if the person was close to them.

Bullying can be very damaging because it might even go unnoticed. If a parent thinks their son or daughter is getting bullied, they should try talk to them about it. If possible, they can contact the school. Through being counseled, they are able to re-build their self-esteem and resilience. Similarly, a child may be having stress at school because of exams or their general academic life. Teens tend to worry about consequences of not doing well.

Some struggles faced by teenagers are normal since they are part and parcel of their growth. They might be going through identity change, dealing with their peers or developing interests. A parent is supposed to be very patient when dealing with them at such moments. Patience is one of the best ways to make them open up and talk freely.

There are useful tips that helps when counseling teens. One of the main things one should note is that counselors need to listen and reflect. In many cases when one is approached by a teen, they at once feel they have words of wisdom that they need to impart. This can be counterproductive. You need to carefully listen to them as they tell you what the problem is. This is followed by reflection before coming up with what you think is the best way out.

Teens are not supposed to be judged as they are counseled. They are able to tell whenever one is looking down upon them or judging them. Should they have the feeling that they are being judged, they are likely to develop a sense of fear and will not be free anymore. They always need to be assured.

A counselor is not supposed to over-identify. Most counselors might make the mistake of trying to match the experiences of the teen with their own with the hope that it will make them more comfortable. This is not the case. If you have similar experiences, it would be enough to just inform them of the same without giving too much unnecessary details.

Small talk can be of a lot of help. It will be important to find little stuff to talk to teens about. It might be about their interests, schedules or what is going on in their lives at the time. The talk instills a sense of comfort and ease in them.




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