Teen Counselling in Edmonton: How to Know When Your Teen May Need Extra Support
The teenage years can be challenging for both teens and their families. Between school pressures, friendships, changing relationships, identity, family stress and growing independence, it can sometimes be difficult to know what is a normal part of adolescence and when your teen might benefit from additional support.
As a parent, you know your teen best. If you’ve noticed that they seem overwhelmed, withdrawn, unusually irritable or simply not quite themselves, counselling can provide a safe place for them to work through what they’re experiencing.
Signs Your Teen May Benefit From Counselling
Every teenager is different, and needing counselling doesn’t necessarily mean something is seriously wrong. Sometimes teens simply benefit from having a supportive person outside of their family to talk to.
Some signs that additional support may be helpful include:
Increased anxiety, worry or stress
Changes in mood or increased irritability
Withdrawing from family or friends
Difficulty coping with school or academic pressure
Low self-esteem or negative self-talk
Problems with friendships or relationships
Difficulty managing strong emotions
Family conflict
Struggling after a stressful or upsetting experience
Changes in behaviour that concern you
What Happens in Teen Counselling?
One of the most important parts of counselling with teens is creating a relationship where they feel respected, understood and comfortable being themselves.
Therapy isn’t about lecturing a teenager or telling them what they should do. Instead, counselling can help teens better understand their emotions, recognize patterns, develop coping strategies and learn healthier ways of responding to difficult situations.
Depending on the teen and their needs, I may draw from approaches such as CBT, DBT, EMDR, Emotionally Focused Therapy and trauma-informed therapy.
What Role Do Parents Have?
Parents can be an important part of supporting a teenager’s mental health. At the same time, teens need an appropriate level of privacy to feel comfortable opening up in counselling.
Part of the process is finding a balance that allows your teen to develop trust in therapy while keeping parents appropriately involved in their care. How this looks can vary depending on the teen’s age, needs and circumstances.
Finding the Right Therapist for Your Teen
The relationship between a teenager and their counsellor matters. Your teen is more likely to engage in therapy when they feel that their counsellor genuinely listens to them and understands their world.
Before becoming a counsellor, I spent 10 years as a teacher and have more than 15 years of experience working with teens, including young people experiencing mental health, behavioural and neurodivergence-related challenges. That experience has shaped the way I approach therapy with teenagers: with warmth, respect, curiosity and an understanding that every teen is different.
At Rising Within Counselling, I provide counselling for teens and parents in Edmonton, with both in-person and virtual appointments available.
If you’re wondering whether counselling might be helpful for your teenager, you’re welcome to reach out. We can discuss what’s been happening and whether I may be a good fit for your teen.
Ready to get started? Book an appointment or contact Rising Within Counselling]to learn more.
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