Teens live complicated lives, being on the cusp of adulthood. While they want to be treated like grown-ups at times, they need to feel cared for as they did as children. These young adults are placed in social situations where they must make difficult choices during intense peer scrutiny and pressure.
Coupled with fluctuating hormones, this emotional stress can cause teens to start behaving differently, struggle with schoolwork, or display signs of depression. Here are five scenarios in which teen counselling is essential:
Substance abuse
An unfortunate reality of the modern world is that substance abuse is more prevalent than ever due to ease of access. Teens seem to lay their hands on alcohol and drugs with a disturbing amount of ease. The Vernon Counselling branch of Interactive Counselling recommends therapy for teens as soon as potential substance abuse trouble is detected.
A counsellor can determine the best course of action, which could include detox and rehab. A combination of individual and group therapy is usually also recommended. Counselling could help to determine an underlying cause that led to substance abuse. Family counselling could be indicated if part of the problem lies with interpersonal relationships.
Depression
Teens are prone to feeling down due to hormonal imbalances and external stressors, such as school and social relationships. However, persistent feelings of hopelessness combined with changes to a teen’s sleep and eating patterns could indicate something more serious.
Untreated, depression can spiral out of control, leading to suicidal ideation or self-harm. These issues are best addressed early, and a counsellor can refer a teen to a therapist who might determine a need for medication. Getting an accurate diagnosis and treatment program may take time as doctors are disinclined to put teens on antidepressants unless there is no alternative.
Grief
There are many types of grief, and bereavement, related to the loss of a loved one is only one of them. A person experiences grief after any sudden loss. For teens, this could also be relocating and no longer attending school with their friends, a breakup, or their parents divorcing. Regardless of the loss, counselling can help teens process what has happened and move forward with a healthy outlook on life.
Most teens struggle with changed circumstances, which a sudden loss and feelings of grief can precipitate. Some advice from a dispassionate outsider can offer them the perspective they need to adjust.
Teens tend to be sensitive and may come across as being overdramatic when something bad happens. However, their emotional, psychological, and mental needs are different from a child or adult.
School and social issues
For most teens, school is the center of their universe. It is where their friends are, and their educational future lies. As children approach adolescence, friends become a more significant influence on their choices.
However, for some teens, school can become a living nightmare. They struggle academically or are the butt of teasing and bullying. Some have strained relationships with teachers due to personality clashes. A child’s future lies in their education, and counselling to iron out school-related issues will secure it.
Stress
Like adults, teenagers experience stress. It comes from many sources, including parents and teachers who expect exceptional grades, worries about what they will do after graduation, and problems in the home, such as divorce.
Stress takes its toll on teens and can lead to behavioural problems or substance abuse as they view these as ways to escape the pressure for a while. Teens who get counselling can learn stress management skills to get them through a crisis or situation. These skills are vital for adulthood and best learned early on in life.