Teen Therapy near Fairfax Northern Virginia

If your teen or young adult is currently dealing with anxiety, depression, or any other mental health issue, rest assured that you’re not facing this challenge alone. Over a year has passed since the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) collaborated with other organizations to declare a national emergency in youth mental health, and many teenagers continue to face these difficulties.

Nevertheless, you might question whether the symptoms your teenager is experiencing are typical of the biological and social changes connecting to the journey to adulthood, or if there’s something more significant at play. As a parent or caregiver, determining when it’s appropriate to have a conversation with your teen and explore teen therapy near Fairfax Northern Virginia.

What Kind of Pressures Are Teens Facing?

Concerns have been voiced by experts in youth mental health regarding the excessive pressures placed on children and teenagers during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the long-lasting consequences of school closures and other pandemic-related stressors are not the sole contributors to teen stress. Many young individuals are grappling with:

• Overwhelming pressure to navigate their future, excel academically, or secure admission to prestigious colleges and universities.
• The expectation to excel in sports, the performing arts, or other extracurricular activities.
• Demanding schedules that leave insufficient time for rest, relaxation, and unstructured enjoyment.
• Experiencing bullying, whether in person, through social media, or a combination of both.
• Lingering concerns about climate change, global conflicts, and other weighty issues.
• Facing discrimination based on factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, weight, religion, disability, or other considerations.
• Coping with challenges related to poverty or a lack of resources for secure housing and an adequate supply of nutritious food.

How Will I Know if My Teen is Struggling?

The mental health symptoms you might see in your child will, of course, be unique to them. But as a parent or caregiver, you have a good sense of what their “normal” looks like. Signs your teen may be having mental health difficulties may include:

• In addition to more overt symptoms like mood swings, irritability, anger and tearfulness, you may see:
• Notable changes in sleep, weight, eating habits or other everyday patterns
• Loss of interest in the things they usually love or quitting activities that they enjoy
• Withdrawing more than usual from friends, family and community
• Canceling plans with their closest friends with little or no explanation
• Academic struggles that seem different or more intense: for example, failing quizzes in their favorite subject or refusing to do homework that once would have seemed easy
• Running thoughts or worries that won’t leave them alone
• A whole new set of friends you’ve never met before
• Refusing to talk about what’s bothering them, even after you’ve made it as safe as possible to discuss hard issues openly
• Obsession with a certain goal, possibly with the belief that if they don’t achieve it, their life will never be the same
• Signs of drug, alcohol or other substance use
• Signs of self-harm such as cuts, burns, bruises, etc. that your teen tries to hide or can’t explain fully and credibly
• Sexual activity or interest that seems new or more intense than before

Keep in mind that if your teen exhibits just one symptom from this list, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are having a full-blown crisis. Biological changes, including the hormonal shifts inherent in the tween and teen years, can impact your child’s mood, school performance, and other aspects of their life. However, if you consistently observe one or more of these signs, it’s probably time to initiate a conversation with your teen about teen therapy near Fairfax Northern Virginia.

Teen Therapy near Fairfax Northern Virginia

Call (703) 732-6426 today to schedule an initial appointment or a free 15-minute phone consultation about teen therapy near Fairfax Northern Virginia. We also offer discernment counseling, family therapy, individual therapy, couples counseling, parent coordination and coparenting counseling. We look forward to hearing from you!