Teenagers and Young Adults
If you’re a teenager or young adult… welcome!
I’m glad you’re here… and that you’re looking for answers.
Recent times have been difficult. Many of us experienced isolation at its worst; we were stuck at home with family and only a cell phone to connect to the outside world.
You’re trying to figure out how to feel better.
Overwhelmed, on-edge, sad and angry. You’re feeling helpless and hopeless, not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. You’re constantly feeling “not good enough” for everyone around you, but you try your best to succeed.
You desperately want to smile, feel happiness, have peace of mind, and move to a more hopeful and fulfilling future. Everyone tells you what you need to do to get there, but you’re staring at the map with no clear direction.
You have a friend who seems lost and shows signs of risk-taking behaviors.
They appear to be crying out for help, but no one listens to them, and you don’t know how to help. They may be isolated, hanging out with a different crowd, acting out of character, or posting bizarre comments on social media.
Or maybe things aren’t going so well with your parents. Perhaps they’re going through a divorce, struggling with their health, grieving the loss of a family member, or struggling with substances… Or maybe they’re not involved enough or too involved and intrusive in your life.
And then, there’s everything at school or your social life: bullying, body-shaming, questions of gender and sexual identity, experimentation with substances… where does it end??
Finding your way in today’s world can definitely be overwhelming!
And when you can barely take care of yourself…
It’s almost impossible to take care of anyone else. Yet you and your friends are going through so much!
If you’re like most of us, you put on your “I’m okay” mask to get through the day. But behind that mask is self-doubt, fear, and deep sadness.
You want love, but you push it away out of fear of being hurt again.
You want to let people in, but you don’t trust anyone.
You want to reach out for help, but you doubt anyone can.
I know you’re hurting, but working through the pain is part of learning who you are.
You don’t have to do it alone.
I can assure you: Yes, therapy can help…
Dealing with today’s stress is overwhelming. Therapists can support you in ways that parents and friends can’t. You need someone outside your circle to see things from a new perspective.
Talking to a therapist can help you figure out how to deal with all the stress in your life.
Having an objective person who has your best interest at heart, will advocate for your needs, and will do whatever they can to help you through this safely.
Together, you will work through feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, guilt, and shame by having a safe place to express your thoughts and feelings and to develop positive coping skills and support systems. You will learn how to communicate better with your parents and stand up for yourself, creating new goals for the future you desire.
You need someone who will listen to your challenges and encourage you to find your strength through the challenging times you have experienced. Expressing how you’re feeling will open opportunities to find strength, hope, and direction in your life.
Through your work in therapy, you will improve your self-esteem and learn how to love who you are. In normalizing your feelings, you will be encouraged, praised, and accepted for who you are. You will also be challenged to change behaviors that are not working for you and search for improved ways that will work. While working through feelings of confusion and fear about your future, you will be able to create goals and learn to achieve them.
Relationships are so important now, so it is essential to improve relationships with your friends and family and create new, exciting ones that will add to your unique sense of self.
Are you wondering if you can trust me?
Absolutely, you can. What we talk about stays between us. I will never break your trust.
I won’t tell your parents, teachers, or friends (unless you want me to). I will hold your story sacred and build bit by bit on the trust we create together.
The only times I will need to break our trust is when I feel you or someone else is in danger and needs protection.
You have a voice in your life. You don’t need to find it alone.
You may have tried therapy before but feel like it didn’t help. Not everyone is going to find the right therapist right away. I hope you continue trying until you find the right match. Please, just don’t stop searching.
“You’re sick of all these people but scared to be alone.” Lyrics from Rise Against.
I totally get that you’re scared of expressing yourself to another adult. You’re afraid of hearing the same thing, being misunderstood, judged, and criticized for who you are. You’re tired of trying. I can give you my word that I will try my best to see the world you live in through your eyes, hear the language you hear, and support you through your challenges by walking with you.
I look forward to connecting with you on your music, movies, anime, and even videogames and simply getting to know the real YOU.
I would love to have the chance to help. Call now. It’s free and private: (626) 283-5852.
If you need immediate help or are having thoughts of wanting to harm yourself, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline immediately: (800) 273-8255