Adolescent Therapy

Therapy is a way to get help with problems or get extra support if you are going through a tough time. You'll learn skills to cope, feel better, and get help with problems you're having.

Reasons to see a therapist:

• family problems, school problems, dealing with a health condition
• help to get through things like -trauma, abuse, bullying and peer pressure
• learn how to deal with sadness, depression, grief, anger, self-harm, stress, anxiety, worry, and low self-esteem

What Happens in Therapy?

People meet with a therapist to talk and learn ways to work out their problems.

At the beginning, the therapist asks questions about your problems. They also ask about other things in your life, such as family, school, and health. They listen to what it's like for you so they can understand you. They talk with you and with your parent -- sometimes together, sometimes separately. They explain how they can help you. Together you decide on goals for your therapy.

• Talk. Therapists have people talk about their feelings. When you put your feelings into words, you learn more about yourself. When you talk through your difficult feelings, it helps you deal with them. It helps you pause instead of act on upset feelings. When you talk about your good feelings, and what's going well for you, it builds more good feelings. Therapists guide you to see how your feelings, thoughts, choices, and actions affect each other.
• Learn things. Therapists teach lessons about emotions, thoughts, coping skills, facing fears, and more. Parents and caregivers may learn ways to help you too. What each person learns about in therapy depends on what they need help with.
• Find your strengths. Therapy helps you build inner strengths like courage and confidence. It helps you see how capable you are and that helps you feel happier in your life.
• Practice new skills. A therapist might teach skills like mindfulness, positive self-talk, and calm breathing. In your therapy visits, you'll practice the skills you learn.
• Work out problems. Your therapist will ask how problems affect you at home and at school. You'll talk this through. You'll use the skills you're learning to work out problems.