Counseling for Teens

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6

Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are common conditions, affecting nearly one in every eight children under age 18. Children of this age range experience a great deal of pressure in virtually every facet of their lives. Well-meaning parents push their children to succeed, middle and high school years are wrought with social and academic pressures and the natural changes of adolescence can be confusing, frustrating and overwhelming. When other issues such as family transitions, death, health concerns, divorce and emerging mental health concerns are added, it is understandable for anyone, especially young adults, to feel overwhelmed. It takes time and practice to learn how to deal with stress and other negative emotions. Christian counselors can help your teen learn to better understand and process their emotions while exploring ways to express themselves in a healthy way.

ADHD and Learning Disabilities

According to The National Center for Learning Disabilities, 35% of parents who have children with learning disabilities have serious concerns about their ability to deal with their child’s struggles. If your teen suffers from conditions like ADHD, dyslexia or other challenges that affect their academic success, it is natural to feel overwhelmed, which often shows up in a teen as behavior issues, obstinacy, apathy or strong emotional reactions to seemingly small stress factors. Christian counseling for your teen will teach them how to better manage stress, improve their self-esteem and find hope in the future. With added support, your teen can feel confident in knowing that God has a plan for them and the struggles they face are molding them in ways they never imagined.

Behavior and Social Problems in School

As a parent, it can be hard to understand why your child is acting out, refusing to do their work or engaging in conflict with teachers or peers. Frustration leads to tension between you and your child, which can limit your ability to deal with the problem constructively. Our teen-focused Christian counselors are experienced in teaching teenagers to deal with issues that affect their ability to succeed in school and form healthy friendships. Behavior problems in school are often a symptom of a larger issue that needs to be addressed before true progress can be made. By tackling underlying issues rather than scolding the behavior, your teen’s counselor will seek to set your child back on a desirable path. Once those areas are identified, the counselor can work toward equipping your teen with better ways to handle difficult situations so they can succeed now and in the future.

Suicidal Thoughts and Behavior

It is a terrifying statistic, but suicide is the third leading cause of death in children and teens ages 10-19. Teen years bring new responsibilities, concerns and pressures. Sometimes teens are unable to handle overwhelming negative emotions, which can lead to concerning behaviors. When faced with added challenges on top of normal teen issues, your child might be at higher risk for severe depression, which can lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. In these cases, your teen’s counselor will look at all the behaviors and warning signs and at the same time create a safety net for them to explore their emotions. While confidentiality is protected in most cases, instances of suicidal ideation are approached differently. Parents are informed and included in these circumstances to make sure the teen is safe. Your teen’s Christian counselor will identify the causes of his thoughts and offer solutions for healing.

Violent Behavior

If your teen is acting out in anger, you have reason to be concerned. Whether directed toward family members or peers, violence can lead to serious consequences for your teen now and in the future. Christian counselors for teens offer a compassionate place to explore troubling behavior. They will help your teen feel at ease and learn to be able to share information about things that might be causing the anger outbursts. Anger is usually a symptom of an underlying issue, such as depression, shame or a cry for attention. Young people can have difficulty knowing how to express themselves in a way that gets the results they seek. Because you are emotionally invested as a parent, it’s natural to react to the behavior rather than looking for a root cause. Christian counselors look beyond the behavior, toward the inner voice that needs to be heard. Having someone outside of the situation who can offer an objective perspective can go a long way in helping your teen deal with anger and violent tendencies by learning tools to manage harmful emotional responses.

Sudden Weight Loss or Gain

If your teen is showing a sudden change in weight loss or gain, this could be a sign of issues that need professional attention. Conditions like anxiety, depression, eating disorders or health problems can cause a rapid change in your child’s weight. Your child’s physician can determine whether the weight loss or gain is caused by a medical condition. Once ruled out, you might consider Christian counseling to help explore the psychological reasons for this sudden change. Managing these issues early is a key component in helping your teen learn to cope with influential stressors and form healthier habits to carry with them through adulthood.

Extreme Mood or Personality Changes

It’s normal for teenagers to experience a degree of emotional, mood and personality changes. Hormones, physical changes and typical adolescent stress factors can make most teens seem erratic at times. When these mood changes increase in frequency or severity or if the personality changes become alarming, it might be a good idea to seek help from a professional. A Christian counselor for teens can determine the cause of these changes, whether they are environmental, circumstantial or symptoms of an emerging psychological condition. Often, if a person is going to struggle with mood disorders, signs will begin to appear during adolescence. Early intervention and treatment will help your teen manage their symptoms more efficiently. Whatever the cause, our Christian counselors are experienced in helping teens to overcome negative emotions and find hope in Christ.

Illegal or Risky Behavior

As a parent, few things are more alarming than watching your teen fall into trouble. Learning that your child is participating in illegal or dangerous activities can quickly make a parent feel helpless and out of control. If your teen is getting into trouble, our Christian counselors for teens might be able to help. Through counseling, your teen will be encouraged to form a trusting, therapeutic relationship based on common ground, compassion and respect. By making your teen feel unconditionally accepted, his counselor will work with him to explore his thinking, seek the reason for his behavior and offer healthy alternatives for dealing with the underlying issues that cause your teen to act negatively.

Sexual Behavior Concerns

Another frightening concern for parents of teens involves sexual activity. In our society, teens are exposed to sex through various forms of media which glamorize and even encourage sexual behavior. The counselors at Seattle Christian Counseling have helped teens understand the changes involved in adolescence and how to deal with pressures and the natural desires they face. In counseling, your teen is free to discuss a variety of sexual concerns including confusion about sexual identity, how to preserve sexual health and integrity, issues of low self-esteem and how to manage peer pressure in order to maintain individual values. Getting teens to open up about personal issues like sexual behavior can be a challenge, especially for parents. If you’re having a hard time communicating with your teen about sex, a Christian counselor can help mend the communication gap and offer solid advice so your teen is more likely to make healthy choices about sexual activity.

Spiritual Concerns

Most people wrestle with faith issues at some point in their lives. Even when raised in a Christian home, it is natural for teens to go through periods of questioning and doubt. In our society, it is becoming increasingly difficult to express faith openly. Your teen might be struggling with ridicule or pressure from those who seek to demean and disprove God’s Word. God can use these times to strengthen faith and encourage growth, but it helps to have support from others who have persevered through similar situations. If your teen is battling with questions pertaining to spiritual identity, Christian counseling can offer biblical guidance as your teen sorts through these issues in order gain a better understanding of God and His plan.