Is your teen experiencing social or academic stress? Do they seem distant, unhappy or unmotivated? Do you suspect they are abusing substances or struggling with an eating disorder?

Neurobiological research shows that adolescents have not fully developed the executive functioning skills located in the frontal cortex. This includes important skills such as prioritizing goals, sequencing activities, organizing, persevering through challenges, and staying focused. These means that although teens can often face some serious life challenges, they are not equipped to manage these alone. At the same time, teens are presented with an endless number of social, academic financial and emotional challenges in our modern world. There is tremendous societal pressure, much of it perpetuated by social media, to look good, be wealthy, be endlessly happy and have a million “likes”. The impact of trying to seem perfect can lead to academic burnout, body-image and self-image difficulties and depression or anxiety.

Common Life Challenges Among Teens

• Loss – Loss can come in many forms during the adolescent years. The death of a loved one (including a pet), parental separation or divorce, or dissipating friendships. Loss can also occur when a family moves to a new location and the teen needs to adjust to a new school setting and new social circumstances.
  Stress –A little stress is normal and can even be motivating. Overwhelming stress can cause burnout at any age. Many teens face tremendous amounts of stress related to school expectations, holding down a job, struggling to be accepted by peers, and family commitments.
• Violence – Teens that are bullied at school or at home often suffer in silence. Research shows that interpersonal violence such as sexual and physical assault often goes unreported in this age range. Left unchecked, the aftermath of violence can result in Depression, anxiety and PTSD.
• Identity Formation – Among the important developmental challenges in adolescence, is the exploration of personal identity. Teens move away from defining themselves through their families’ eyes and now turn to peers and media culture to define who they are. The unattainable expectations of pop culture along with the pressure to know who they are across gender and sexual identity, spiritual identity, social interests, personal beliefs and values can be overwhelming for some teens.
• Risk Taking Behaviors- Neuroscientific research points to the lack of critical thinking and problem-solving skills as well as difficulty with holding on to cause and effect. In essence, the sudden freedom, peer influence and lack of brain judgement is “the perfect storm” for risk taking behaviors such as substance use and abuse, unprotected sexual behavior, and the temptation to try unhealthy ways to manage weight and body image.

This is not an exhaustive list of reasons why a teen may want to speak with a therapist by any means. If you think your teen could benefit from therapy, please reach out to me.