Will my teenager be ok?
Do you have a teenager? Do you worry about them? Of course you do! Do you wonder if they have enough support to get through their teenage years and eventually thrive? Sure, completely normal! Are there things that they don’t feel they can talk to you about? Uh, yeah, this is how this life stage works! It’s my belief, after working with teenagers for the past 9 years, that most (if not all) can benefit from an extra adult in their lives to talk through and process things.
Maintaining connection with my teenager…
Friend groups become so influential at this point and while social support is important to any human being, you want to make sure your teen’s friend group is not guiding their every decision. You’ll want to maintain your position in their lives as they grow into this sometimes challenging phase of life. And whether you’ve done the hard work throughout their early childhood to give them a safe place to talk and attach to you or not, it’s not too late! You can still have the relationship with your teen you always wanted and dreamed of, but it often begins with giving them a place to vent and work through what they’re experiencing. Seeking a professional for this reason, does not take away from your position as their parent and, in fact, can oftentimes add to the connection you have as a family.
Does my teenager have the support they need?
Maybe they’re feeling sad or anxious or out of place or confused or self conscious, or any other number of possibilities that arise in adolescence. The life stage of adolescence is chock full of opportunities for them to feel “not quite right”. To give them another place to vent and process, is truly a meaningful gift. To provide them with a place to hone in on their feelings, actions, behaviors, and thoughts so they can grow and develop into the young person (and eventually adult) they want to be, who can be secure in themselves – well, it’s absolutely priceless.