PARENTING TEENS
How can I fix my relationship with my teen?
Parenting teens is hard. There’s not a one-size-fits-all guide. You thought you might know what to do since you used to be a teen yourself, but things didn't go the way you expected.
The issues your kids are facing seem so different from what you remember dealing with. They seem upset with everything you do and act like what you’ve given them isn't enough.
You’ve tried talking to your teen over and over. You’ve tried figuring out what's going on and what they need. You wish your teen would respect you or feel grateful for what you’ve tried to do, but nothing seems to be fixing the issues you have.
In fact, everything you do seems to make your teenager angrier or more closed off.
You've given and sacrificed so much for your child. You’ve done your best. It's okay to get some outside help to come alongside you and support you as a parent.
Counseling will sharpen your strengths and help you become a parent your kids listen to.
Through counseling, you will learn how to:
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develop new skills and strategies you didn't know existed
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experience a more productive and peaceful family culture
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create a good relationship with your child that lasts a lifetime
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feel heard and understood by the people important you
You will benefit most from counseling for parenting teens if:
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your kids are at least 12 years old
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you've tried everything you can think of and you're still having issues with your teens
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your kids aren't dealing with a substance addiction
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you have regular contact with your kids
The counseling process:
Therapy will help you identify the areas of disconnection with your son or daughter. The therapist will help you reconnect with your teenager in a relevant way.
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Each therapy session is 50 minutes long. For best results with reconnecting with your teen, we recommend at least eight consecutive weeks of therapy. This timeframe helps you and the therapist move beyond surface conversations and develop a relationship that focuses on deep healing. Once the relationship has been established, sessions can be moved to biweekly or, if you have resolved your significant struggles, can begin to move toward termination.
WHAT TO EXPECT
WEEK 1
The first week is the intake session. The intake session also involves beginning to establish a warm and welcoming relationship between you and your therapist, so you feel comfortable opening up about your family and working on your issues in subsequent sessions.
Week 2 and THE FOLLOWING weeks:
The early weeks of therapy will involve building rapport. This is crucial; young people will be more willing to open up and will have greater success addressing their struggles if they trust their therapist. The therapist will evaluate the child’s needs and use a combination of therapies determined to be the best fit for the unique needs of your son or daughter. Your child will also receive homework to be practiced at home. Ongoing and consistent application of skills and tools is necessary for growth.
Intermountain Counseling is committed to creating a safe, warm, and welcoming environment for teens and preteens so they feel empowered and equipped to overcome the obstacles in their life.
Termination:
Termination is the agreed-upon ending of the therapeutic relationship once goals are achieved and takes 1 to 3 sessions, depending on your child's needs. The therapist will coordinate with the client to determine what is appropriate. Therapy should be a springboard into life; it’s vital that the relationship not be ended prematurely, which would undermine everything your child has work toward. If termination is deemed appropriate, the therapist will work with your child to establish a plan moving forward so that change remains consistent.