You may have noticed some changes in your 13- to 19-year-old that, at first, you chalked up to typical teenage behavior. But later, you see that the behavior may be more serious and more impactful on the entire family, and you want to help but aren’t sure how. This is where counseling for teens in Flower Mound, Texas can help.
Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(469) 333-6163
At Flower Mound Christian Counseling, counseling for teens is an opportunity for them to speak with a licensed, professional counselor on a regular basis to help them manage stress and learn coping skills.
When your tween or teen begins seeing a counselor, he or she will likely meet for an initial assessment. This gives your teen a chance to share what’s been troubling and possibly some of the triggers to his or her difficulties.
However, it’s natural for a teen to need a few sessions to warm up to a counselor. Typically, once a teen is comfortable, he or she can meet with his or her counselor for anywhere from three months to a year, depending on what his or her needs are.
Signals that may indicate a need for counseling for teens include:
- Abrupt moodiness that lasts longer than two weeks
- Change in diet or sleep habits that are interfering with his or her everyday life
- A drop in grades and/or loss of interest in activities that he or she once enjoyed
- Struggles with social situations, such as friendship concerns that cause anxiety or fear
- Bullying at school, online, or via text
- Withdrawal from family activities
- Stealing, lying, or habitual secrecy
- Talking about feeling afraid, worried, or self-defeating thoughts
- A feeling of internal pressure that builds and does not subside
- Repeated angry outbursts and/or a struggle with self-harm behaviors
- Lack of focus and clarity or a general feeling of overwhelm that is difficult to dismiss
Your teen may be experiencing his or her symptoms on a continuum that changes, depending on how old he or she is, what her relationships are like with family and peers, and what his or her natural bent or personality is. Our first recommendation for parents is not to expect a “quick fix” for your teen’s struggle.
It can take time for a teenager to open up to a counselor, and it’s important that he or she develops a deep sense of trust with the counselor. Over time, this trust level will be the foundation upon which your teen can openly share about how he or she is struggling.
Many of our teen counselors will begin with two to three intake interviews, which may include one with you. As a parent, you will be able to provide your own observations and perspectives, and your teen will be able to discuss his or her perspective one on one with the counselor as well.
These interviews may feel awkward at first, but a counselor is simply asking questions so he or she can get to know your teen, understand what his or her daily life is like, and have a better grasp on why he or she is struggling. Then, once this initial phase is complete, the counselor may have some recommendations for your teen as they pursue repeated counseling sessions. Most counseling sessions last around 50 minutes.
At Flower Mound Christian Counseling, your teen’s counselor may teach him or her coping skills for managing stress such as breathing techniques, paying attention to his or her bodily cues, and mental sharpening techniques that can help your teen focus and be present. Other discussion topics that may come up include ways to recognize his or her own feelings, how to process them in a healthy way, and how to communicate what his or her needs are with friends or family.
At times, your teen’s counselor may ask to do a session with you or want to review how your teen is doing. And if it’s something your teen would find helpful and agreeable, a family therapy session could also come up at some point. However, as your teen builds a trusting relationship with his or her counselor, he or she will be able to practice some of the communication skills he or she is learning in therapy in his or her everyday life.
Some teens have a tendency toward struggles with anxiety, but many teens can benefit from counseling in various areas. If your teen has any of the conditions below, he or she may benefit even more from counseling.
- ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Learning disabilities
- Mood disorders
- Depression
- Panic attacks or anxiety
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Other teens may find hope in meeting with a Christian counselor to help them cope with stress of school, transitional seasons that come with a change in circumstances (such as moving or a parent starting a new job), college applications, family relationship struggles, divorce of parents, or death of a pet, a friend or a family member.
Teens who learn to share their thoughts and feelings with a trained counselor are more likely to use these tools as adults. They also tend to have higher self-esteem, improved grades, and be able to take ownership over their own sense of self and boundaries in relationships.
One study reports that one in three teens is struggling with anxiety. Seeing a counselor can help teens learn how to express their needs, make time for those needs, and feel more confident about their path in life.
Other benefits include:
- Lower stress
- Higher ability to develop authentic, healthy relationships as they grow older
- Improved academic success due to understanding his or her priorities better
- Ability to be “in the moment” more fully without thoughts of fear and overwhelm
- Stronger confidence and sense of who he or she is apart from parents and family
- Easier time connecting with family members
- Ability to solve problems and find healthy solutions to social tensions
If you think your teen may benefit from counseling, the initial conversation with him or her is very important. Here are some positive aspects that can be included in that conversation:
- “I wonder if talking with someone else, in addition to me, would help.”
- Letting your teen know that counseling is a tool — not a sign of weakness. Discussing it as a strength — similar to exercise, eating healthy foods, and seeing a doctor regularly — can make a counseling session seem less intimidating.
- If you have ever seen a counselor yourself, it can normalize counseling for your teen.
- Make sure your teen knows that you just want what is best for him or her and that he or she is not crazy or broken and beyond repair.
- If your teen seems reticent, don’t force the issue. Come back later and ask questions about why he or she is hesitant.
- When your teen doesn’t see a need to go to counseling, it may be out of fear. Encourage him or her that you will be supportive of him or her just “trying it out,” and if doesn’t seem to help, he or she will not be forced to go.
- If your child feels the choice is within his control, not just dictated to him, he may be more likely to assess his need for talking about coping mechanisms with an impartial person.
At Flower Mound Christian Counseling, we have several trained, Christian counselors who can help. Your children’s mental health is a priority, and a trained counselor can help him or her with any changes he or she is experiencing. Contact us today to find the help your family needs.
Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(469) 333-6163