As a parent, one of the hardest things that you can go through is watching your child struggle. Unfortunately, many teenagers go through difficult periods where their emotions are in turmoil; sometimes they lack the coping skills necessary to deal with all of the changes that they are going through, they may become sad and reclusive. Alternatively, they may lash out in anger or behave in ways that are inappropriate. All of these behavioral patterns are typically a cry for help.
If your teenager is struggling and is not thriving the way that they should, teenage psychologists may be able to help. Attending therapy can benefit your child in many different ways. Here are three of the primary advantages that counselling may provide:
1. Learning to identify and express their feelings.
One of the primary reasons that teenagers act out or withdraw from the world is because they don’t know how to understand or cope with their feelings. Adolescence is an extremely difficult time. The transition from being a child to becoming an adult is wrought with confusion and frustration. In many cases, these difficulties can become overwhelming.
When you add hormonal changes into the mix, it can be extremely challenging for a teenager to deal with everything that they are experiencing. Through therapy, however, they can learn how to identify and understand the emotions that they are feeling.
Perhaps more importantly, they can learn how to express these feelings in a way that is healthy and productive. Rather than bottling their emotions up inside, they can learn how to effectively acknowledge and cope with their feelings.
2. Learning to identify triggers.
Often times, there are certain triggers in your child’s life that may cause them to experience emotional turmoil. For instance, if they struggle with social skills, being put in situations that force them to interact with their classmates can be extremely stressful and can result in behavioral issues.
Teenage psychologist can help your child identify these triggers. They can then help them come up with positive coping strategies that allow them to better handle the stress that they may experience.
Perhaps more importantly, therapy can often help teenagers view these situations in a completely different light. Using the example of social anxiety, a good therapist can help your child learn how to better socialize with their peers. Once they learn helpful social skills, they are far less likely to find themselves in situations that trigger emotional outbreaks or uncomfortable feelings.
This same principle applies to any type of situation that is a trigger for your child. By helping them learn to identify situations that cause them to feel uncomfortable and then teaching them the skills that they need to deal with these situations, a good counsellor can reduce many of the emotional problems that your child has been dealing with.
3. Helping to build self-confidence.
Being a teenager is extremely difficult; dealing with pressure at school, pressure from their friends, and pressure at home, it is no wonder that many teenagers experience emotional and behavioral problems.
One thing that can make a tremendous difference in your child’s life is building their self-confidence. When they feel confident and self-assured, they are far less likely to experience self-doubt and all of the emotional issues that come along with it. They are also more likely to pursue activities that they enjoy, helping them to become more well-rounded and outgoing.
One of the primary benefits of counselling is that it can help your child become more confident in their own abilities. Every child is good at something. Through counselling, your teenager can identify where their talents lie. This can give them something positive to focus on in their lives. As they pursue these talents, their self-confidence and self-esteem will naturally grow. This is particularly true if they get a lot of positive feedback from their friends and family members.
Dealing with the challenges of being a teenager is much easier when they are confident and self-assured. Instead of feeling intimidated by every situation that they encounter, they can approach their life with passion, confidence, and trust in their own abilities. This, in turn, can make them feel like a more worthwhile person.
Many teenagers are resistant to the idea of therapy. However, those walls usually break down after a few sessions and once they engage, develop rapport with their psychologist. Once they experience that their therapist is there to listen to them, they don’t feel judged or in trouble and help them find ways to lead a happier life, they usually open up and talk freely.
Often, simply being able to share their thoughts and feelings in a supportive environment is enough to make a tremendous difference in how they feel, then they can be helped to develop their coping skills and build on their talents, giving them the confidence that they need to pursue the things that they are most passionate about. This can result in a healthier, happier, more well-balanced life.
Teenage psychologist can make a real difference in your child’s life. If you have a teenager who is struggling or is acting out, it is worth looking into whether counselling could help. Even though your teen may be resistant to the idea at first, eventually they will come to see just how much it can benefit them in their everyday lives. Speaking to your GP is a good first step.