Teen Counseling Santa Rosa CA

By Catherine Butler


Teenage years happen to be among the most challenging and stressful for parents and teens alike. At this age, teenagers face lots of pressure as they try to configure what is going on in their lives. This is why they need to get counseled to deal with such problems in the best way possible. Parents are advised to be keen to notice any strange behaviors in their teens that might require help. When considering teen counseling Santa Rosa CA parents ought to know how to go about it.

There are many instances in which a teen would need to be counseled. When parents divorce or are separated, a teen may need to be talked to. This is because they struggle with the challenges it comes with and it may trigger emotions like anger, sadness, regret and even guilt. Bereavement is the other instance where advice will be needed. When a member of a family passes on and a teenager was close to them, it can be very traumatizing.

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 must never over-identify. Among the mistakes some people make during counseling is attempting to match their previous similar experiences with what they are going through at that time. This jeopardizes the process. It is always enough to just acknowledge you have had a similar experience and then proceed to counsel them normally.

Small talk matters. Counselors need to find little things to talk about with the adolescents. This includes knowing their interests, schedules and what is going on in their lives. Such talk helps them to ease up.




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