Fort Collins Teen Therapy & Counseling Center: Light of the Rockies

Signs Your Teen Could Benefit From Adolescent Counseling

Just as young children have tell-tale ways of displaying their emotions, teens often show their pain through behaviors, not words. Is your teen showing any of the following signs?

Signs of Depression or Low Self-Esteem

If your teen seems down more often than not, pulls away from activities they enjoyed, or has developed a hopeless outlook, these might be signs they’re wrestling with depression or low self-esteem. It’s a tough spot to be in. Gentle understanding and support from a professional can help teens and their parents better understand what’s wrong.

Defiance at School or Home

Arguing with you or their teachers, ignoring rules, or acting out are teenage signals of coping with something deeper. It could be a call for help, even if it doesn’t quite sound like it. Counseling for teens gives them a safe place, where they know they won’t be scolded, to explore their worries and stressors.

Self Harm

Discovering that your teen is hurting themselves to deal with emotional pain can be heartbreaking. This coping strategy is a serious cry for help, showing that they are in more pain inside than they know how to express or manage. Therapy for teens teaches them to recognize and deal with emotions in a healthy way, taking self-harm out of the picture.

Isolating Themselves from Family & Friends

Spending more time alone or cutting themselves off from their peers and family is a red flag for sadness and depression. Withdrawing from social interactions can mean your teen is having difficulty managing an excess of negative emotions.

Withdraw from Usual Activities

Changing interests is a part of growing up. But a sudden lack of interest in their favorite hobbies or sports, especially when combined with behavioral issues, can signal that mental health challenges are zapping their motivation and joy.

Sudden Decline in Academic Performance

A noticeable change in grades or school involvement could mean a number of things from skipping class to general rebellion to classroom anxiety. Individual counseling with a professional can help teens and parents get to the root issue of symptoms like bad grades.

Experience with Traumatic Events

Whether it’s something that happened recently or from the past, exploring negative experiences requires a compassionate approach that honors their privacy and individuality. At Light of the Rockies, we offer treatment that acknowledges the profound impact of trauma, providing a safe space to address the associated stress and loss.