The Stress of Adolescence

How many life experiences do we all encounter from age 12 to age 22?  It is almost impossible to believe that so many changes can occur in ten years.  Life as a teenager/young adult today is arguably harder than ever before. Social media alone is enough to triple the anxiety and pressures placed upon this age group.  

I have worked with persons in this age group (12-22 years) my entire adult life.  My life experience, professional experience, and a multitude of interactions with these young people have allowed me to better help others move through this transition in life.  There is much research on the child development stages, and I have a thorough understanding of this research.  Over time, I have developed confidence in my ability to foster trust and understanding with persons of this age group, allowing me to instill that same confidence within themselves that this transition in life is manageable. 

I also work with parents of this age group.  Often parents feel like the child completely shuts them out of their lives. That realization is incredibly painful, especially if the parent knows the child is struggling with an issue.  Parents want to help.  In fact, most every parent I have encountered is willing to do ANYTHING to help the child but is paralyzed by a false assumption that they are "doing it all wrong."  Because I have experience and training with this age group, I can coach parents on how to help their child in a more effective way.  I don't have the answers, but I have the ability to help you find the answers.  No one knows/loves your child more than you, the parent.  The answers lie within you once you feel confident in your ability to find the right path to follow to be the best parent for your child.

At times, the parent and child may want me to work with each separately and then come together for joint sessions.  This is a possibility.  Sometimes a third person (me) can help mediate conflict so that the two persons can jointly pursue a solution.