Parents and adolescents can benefit from the process and results of adolescent counseling. This form of counseling aims to address and understand the behaviors and thoughts of individuals during the stages of adolescence and as they transition into adulthood. Undergoing counseling can help regulate behaviors and environments for adolescents and provide them with ways to interact with their surroundings effectively and maintain healthy mental habits.
Who Is Considered an Adolescent?
According to the World Health Organization, adolescence generally includes patients aged 10 to 19 years who are undergoing changes and transitional periods in their life. The stages of adolescence include the physical transition of puberty and the mental or environmental transitions from childhood to adulthood. These transitional periods can create many obstacles and mental health challenges in the patient’s daily life. Common issues and topics for adolescent counseling include:
- Sexual and gender roles
- Body image
- Academic anxiety
- Depression
- Friendships and other peer relationships
- Relationships with parents
What Is Adolescent Counseling?
Adolescent counseling refers to counseling and therapy methods used to help young people understand and handle their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Adolescents who attend counseling sessions can learn to understand themselves better and can learn how to successfully navigate the transition from childhood to adulthood. The process of adolescent counseling creates a relationship between the patient and the counselor and can provide the patient with a sense of stability and coping mechanisms, such as relaxation techniques or organizational strategies, to help them weather the changes of adolescence.
What Processes Are Used in Adolescent Counseling?
Depending on the age and requirements of the patient, adolescent counseling may use ideas and practices such as art therapy, music therapy, or traditional talking therapy. The goal is to make the patient comfortable and to allow them to express their thoughts and emotions with the counselor. The counselor may also implement and test multiple methods to assess the patient’s needs and abilities and find the best way to relate to and comfort them.
Adolescent counseling may also occur in group settings or through interactive workshops to distribute information and promote the application of counseling tools and methods. These group activities and meetings can provide facts, resources, and professional insights for the adolescents in attendance. Some patients may also feel more comfortable attending and expressing feelings in a group setting with individuals in the same period of life.
Adolescent counseling may benefit parents and their children by helping them understand the underlying causes of their emotions and behaviors. A counselor can listen to and advise patients. Having access to a professional who specializes in adolescent care can help adolescents feel less alone and allow them to express their feelings without judgment. Adolescence can be an overwhelming and vital developmental process and individuals who struggle may benefit from reaching out and connecting with a counselor.
Parents and teens can contact us for more information or learn about our other areas of practice. Reaching out and meeting with a counselor can be the first step in understanding and handling the complicated emotions, changes, and behaviors that occur commonly during adolescence.
