Signs Your Teenager Needs To See A Therapist – Part Two

In Signs Your Teenager Needs To See A Therapist – Part One, we went over two signs that your teenager needs to see a therapist. We’ll be continuing to explore therapy for teenagers and why it’s essential for you to pay attention to your child’s behavior to determine whether they need to see a therapist. Therapy can not only help your child cope with any angst they may be going through, but it can help your relationship with them as well as allow them to deal with pressures for the rest of their life.

Three Signs Your Teenager Needs To Go To Therapy

In addition to the two signs we discussed in our previous blog, these three signs will help you determine what the right course of action is for your teenager. The teenage years are filled with self-discovery, awkwardness, and jumping into activities that will be looked back on with dismay. However, there’s a darker side to the teenage years and sometimes as a parent, you may overlook it if your child is having more difficulty than they are letting on. If your child is experiencing challenges or they seem to be lashing out more so than usual, then it might be a sign that something more serious is going on. Even if you aren’t sure if there’s something going on with your child, it’s always good to talk to a professional so you’re able to determine the best course of action to keep your child safe.

Bizarre Behavior

Is your child exhibiting bizarre behavior? Are they being secretive, hiding in their room, do you notice gashes on their arms or legs, or do they smell of smoke? If your child is exhibiting bizarre behavior, then it’s a sign that something more is at work and they need to go to therapy. If the bizarre behavior is impacting their day-to-day life, such as they are skipping class, their teachers are reporting incidents, and they seem withdrawn, then take note of their behavior and how long it lasts so you can take them to therapy.

Coping Mechanisms

Teenagers can begin to cope with the stress, pressure, depression, and anger in their life in an unhealthy manner. Teenagers can fall into drinking, doing drugs, having sex, and cutting themselves to deal with their inner turmoil. One of the facets of therapy is determining ways to cope with disappointment, stress, anger, and depression in a healthy manner. These coping mechanisms will be carried with them for the remainder of their life and curb them from falling toward bad habits. If you think your child is coping with aspects of their life in a dangerous fashion such as drinking, doing drugs, cutting, and having unprotected sex, then it’s a sign they need to speak to a professional.

A Recent Trauma

Lastly, if your teenager has gone through a recent trauma, then it’s important they speak to a therapist. By encouraging that your child talks to someone who is removed from the situation, they’ll be able to get more clarity and feel more comfortable opening up, ensuring the therapy is able to help your child.

As a teenager, you feel lost, hopeless, and pressure from all aspects of life. As we grow older, the pressure only continues, but when we have a good foundation of therapy behind us, we are able to cope with all aspects of life easier. If you’re interested in sending your child to therapy, so they are able to talk to someone, then contact the Metis Center For Psychological Services.