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Frommood swingsto school issues, all teens have problems. But sometimes, a teen’s distress might rise to a level where it’s important to seek professional help.Therapy certainly doesn’t need to be reserved for life-altering events or serious mental health problems, however. Meeting with atherapistcan prevent minor issues from turning into major problems.

If you think your teen could benefit from talking to a mental health provider, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with a professional. Talk to your pediatrician or reach out directly to a therapist. Sometimes, even just a few therapy sessions can make a big difference to your teen’s overall well-being.

Teens can benefit from meeting with a therapist to talk to about a variety of topics, ranging from relationship issues to questions about sexual identity. Here are some of the reasons teens go to therapy.

Online Therapy Services for Kids and Families, Tried and Tested

Depression

Mood disorders, such asdepression, often start during the teen years. And if left untreated,depressioncan last into adulthood. If your teen seems irritable, sad, and withdrawn, talk to your pediatrician. An accurate diagnosis and early intervention are key components of effective treatment.

The Best Online Therapy Services for Depression We Tried and Tested

Anxiety Disorders

While it’s normal for teens to worry sometimes, some teens experience intenseanxiety.Anxiety disorderscan interfere with many different aspects of a teen’s life, including friendships and academics.

Whether your teen has difficulty speaking in front of the class or constantly worries that bad things are going to happen, therapy could help them learn how to manage their symptoms so that they can function better in their day-to-day lives.

The Best Online Therapy for Anxiety, Tried and Tested

Behavior Problems

Suspensions from school, repeat curfew violations, and aggressive behavior may be symptoms of more serious problems. A therapist could help uncover potential mental health issues, skill deficits, or social problems that may be driving your teen’s behavior.

In some cases, a teen with severe behavior problems might be diagnosed withconduct disorder, which is a serious mental health condition. Meeting with a therapist can help determine whether your teen’s behavior issues are indicative of a diagnosis and can treat the behavioral symptoms of the disorder.

Substance Abuse Issues

Unfortunately, drugs and alcohol can become serious problems for teenagers. A substance abuse counselor can assess your teen’s substance use and help determine the most appropriate course of treatment.Individual therapy,group therapy,detox, orresidential treatmentmay be options depending on the severity of a teen’s problems.

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Stress

Teenagers can getstressed out. Whether it’s the pressure to perform well on an exam or concerns over what to do after high school, stress can take a serious toll. Therapy can help a teen learn skills to manage stress successfully—and that’s something that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Bullies, failing grades, cliques, and teacher-related issues are just a few of the social-related problems many teens experience. Teens often aren’t sure where to turn for help.

Therapy can provide teens with support and give them skills that will help them navigate high school successfully, including interpersonal skills, communication skills, and setting boundaries.

Low Self-Esteem

While most teens struggle withself-confidenceissues at one time or another, some experience serious self-esteem issues. When those issues are left unaddressed, teens are at a higher risk of problems such assubstance abuseand academic failure. Therapy can help boost a teen’s self-esteem so that they have the resilience to avoid bad coping mechanisms and are better able to take care of themselves.

Trauma

Whether it’s a near-death experience or asexual assault,traumatic eventscan have a lifelong impact on a teen.

Therapy can increase resilience and reduce the impact the traumatic event has on a teen’s life.

Early intervention can be the key to helping a teen recover from traumatic circumstances. If your teen has suffered a trauma, don’t wait to seek help.

The Best Online Trauma Therapy, Tried and Tested

Grief

Teens deal with grief a little differently than adults, and theloss of a loved onecan be especially difficult during adolescence. Individual, family, or group therapy can help teens sort out their feelings and make sense of their loss.

The 10 Best Online Grief Counseling Services We Tried and Tested

Other Reasons to Seek Therapy

Teens don’t need to be experiencing specific symptoms of mental illness to benefit from therapy. Some other reasons that teens might want to think about psychotherapy include:

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A Word From Verywell

If you’re questioning treatment for your teen, err on the side of caution and contact a professional. If your teen isn’t interested in therapy, however, don’t worry. Many teens are hesitant to talk to someone. Encourage your teen to try therapy for a few sessions, and then you might allow them to make the decision about whether to continue. If yourteen outright refuses counseling, you can be the one to talk to a therapist.You may be able to gain new ideas and skills for helping your teen cope better.

Choosing a Therapist for Your Teen

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 19, 2019.Das JK, Salam RA, Lassi ZS, et al.Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.J Adolesc Health. 2016;59(4S):S49-S60. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.020

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 19, 2019.Das JK, Salam RA, Lassi ZS, et al.Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.J Adolesc Health. 2016;59(4S):S49-S60. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.020

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 19, 2019.Das JK, Salam RA, Lassi ZS, et al.Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.J Adolesc Health. 2016;59(4S):S49-S60. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.020

Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reviewed April 19, 2019.

Das JK, Salam RA, Lassi ZS, et al.Interventions for Adolescent Mental Health: An Overview of Systematic Reviews.J Adolesc Health. 2016;59(4S):S49-S60. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.020

Hannah Owens, LMSW

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