If you aren’t sure whether your teen needs therapy, give me a call. I’m happy to offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your concerns. You can also schedule an initial evaluation appointment (intake) where I will fully assess your teen for mental health conditions and make appropriate treatment recommendations.

Many struggles teens face are normal challenges of growing up. You’ll know if your teen needs therapy if these challenges are getting in the way of their day-to-day living, school, safety, or personal relationships. For example, most teens feel anxious at some point, but they may not need therapy if they have healthy ways of coping with it. If your teen’s anxiety is causing them to avoid going to school or engaging with their peers, then they will likely benefit from counseling to help them learn how to get back into their life. Most teens will also try certain substances, like alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana. Sometimes this can be solved through new parenting techniques, but if substance use is ongoing, your teen may need treatment. Any issues involving safety, such as self-harm or talking about suicide, should always be met with treatment to support your teen in learning healthy ways to cope, even if you think they won’t actually hurt themselves.

A large factor in the success of therapy is the therapeutic alliance - finding the right fit and a good working relationship between the therapist and the client. I recommend reviewing the websites or directory bios of several therapists, calling the ones you find interesting, and asking whether they offer a free consultation to determine a good fit. At Meadowlight Counseling, I offer a free 15-minute parent call to discuss this, and during the initial intake appointment, I’ll spend time with your teen one-on-one to get to know them and allow them to ask me questions.

Many teens are hesitant to try therapy - they don’t always view problems in the same way parents do. It’s not easy letting a stranger into their world! Therapy with teens is always a collaborative and voluntary process, unless there are significant safety concerns requiring inpatient care. I can work with you as a parent to talk with your teen about therapy. If they are willing to at least try a few sessions, I can answer their questions and discuss their concerns with them to help them feel more comfortable with the process. I generally do not recommend forcing teens to attend outpatient therapy, but I do have several strategies for addressing hesitation.

Every therapist is different when it comes to parent involvement. At Meadowlight Counseling, I request and encourage parents to be involved in the therapeutic process. I only have your child for one hour at a time, while you are with them every day and have much more influence over your teen’s life. Often, children and teens’ behavior is a response to the social system around them (family, peers, school), and some changes in your behavior as a parent may be necessary. I will work alongside you to support the changes your teen wants to make.

Some examples of parent involvement include:

• Parent participation in sessions (approx. every 4 sessions)

• Scheduled parent meetings or coaching calls

• Providing parent resources via email (e.g., books, articles, and exercises)

• Providing information about the skills your teen is learning and the therapy “homework” your teen has been assigned in sessions

• Involvement in the treatment planning/goal setting process and progress updates

• Involvement in all safety concerns, such as reports of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or abuse. In these cases, I will always encourage your teen to tell you themselves first to support their communication skills and independence.

When it comes to therapy with minors, parents always have access to medical records such as the evaluation, treatment plan, and session notes. However, I consider the therapy room to be a “zone of privacy” for teens so that they feel comfortable sharing what they need to share in order to make progress. I expect parents to respect this zone of privacy and will not disclose specific information teens share in therapy without the teen’s permission. The only exception to this is safety: if your child shares that they are a danger to themselves or others, or if they share that someone else is a danger to them, then I will inform you of this to ensure your child’s safety and help you support your teen in handling the situation.

Yes. Parent sessions or calls are a routine part of teen therapy at Meadowlight Counseling to help you support your teen in making changes outside of the therapy room. These usually occur monthly or as needed to answer any questions you have, help you build skills to support your teens, and address concerns. Your teen will be aware of your involvement in their treatment via parent sessions.