Teenagers
How can
therapy
help teenagers?
As younger children become teenagers, they are increasingly vulnerable to the negative behaviours of their peers. Social media puts pressures on young people in a way which older adults did not experience for themselves.
These problems commonly experienced by teenagers usually respond well to hypnotherapy:
​
General anxiety, repetitive negative thoughts, school-related issues, school refusal, bullying, exam related stress, fear of performing to an audience, selective eating, sleep disturbances, various obsessive or compulsive habits, body image anxiety, anger problems either towards self or others, self-harm, mood swings, tearfulness, being withdrawn, issues connected with gender or sexual identity, panic attacks; low self-confidence, heightened fear of failure, lack of motivation or concentration.
How do teenagers express difficult emotions?
Anxiety and feelings of a loss of control and safety are commonly experienced as young children become teenagers, and these fears and negative emotions can be played out in terms of developing a negative body image or an unhealthy relationship with food.
​
Physical self-harming or angry outbursts can be an expression of overwhelming feelings of inadequacy, or of any other negative emotion which simply won’t seem to go away.
How am I involved as a parent or guardian?
​
Your child’s teens are a time of rapid change which can be as confounding for you as they are frightening for your child. As your teenager struggles to come to terms with their sexuality, self-identity and growing independence and responsibilities, you are likely to find yourself on the ‘sharp end’ of it all, feeling sometimes bewildered by the strength of his or her negative emotions.
As your teenager is a child, my contract of service for working with them is with you, and I will invite you to connect with me by telephone both before our initial meeting and between sessions. This provides the opportunity for us to keep each other updated on your child's progress, and also to discuss how best you can support the therapy.
​
I will work with you and your child together asking that you remain in the room with us at all times. This is to ensure that you have the best possible understanding of the work we are doing. Your presence and involvement will also have a profoundly healing effect on your child.
​
What is your approach?
I will ‘get alongside’ your teenager first to understand, then to work therapeutically, and finally to empower them with the tools required to move forward positively. Your teenager will gain self-confidence from knowing that they have learned the skills required to deal more effectively with future challenges.
​
Using a range of psychotherapeutic techniques, I will work to develop his or her self-understanding, self-confidence and compassion, whilst equipping them with ways of thinking and behaving which will help them to navigate their way through difficulties. I will look for what engages your teenager and use this as a springboard for creating trust and rapport.
​
​
What if my teenager feels nervous about therapy?
​
It is easy to understand why someone who is feeling overwhelmed by the sudden changes and pressures of being a teenager might feel nervous about something else which is unfamiliar and where they imagine they might be forced into the spotlight.
Speaking with me over the phone, or contact via email or zoom can be reassuring before committing to an in person appointment. It is not necessary to commit to more than one session at a time, and I often begin with guided visualisations to boost self-esteem and self-confidence which clients of all ages find very enjoyable and relaxing as well as strengthening..
Most important is that meeting me is their choice, and with a clear understanding that I will be working in response to how they say they would like help.
To a teenager who is thinking about meeting me for the first time: I would like to reassure you that this will be an informal time together where you will sit at ease safely in your comfort zone. I will put your feelings first, and we will work out together how best to move forward to the outcome which you want.
