Children & Teens

When teens are going through a rough time, such as family troubles or problems in school, they might feel more supported if they talk to a therapist. They may be feeling sad, angry, or overwhelmed by what's been happening — and need help sorting out their feelings, finding solutions to their problems, or just feeling better. That's when therapy can help.

Just a few examples of situations in which therapy can help are when someone:

• feels sad, depressed, worried, shy, or just stressed out
• is dieting or overeating for too long or it becomes a problem (eating disorders)
• cuts, burns, or self-injures
• is dealing with an attention problem (ADHD) or a learning problem
• is coping with a chronic illness (such as diabetes or asthma) or a new diagnosis of a serious problem such as HIV, cancer, or a sexually transmitted disease (STD)
• is dealing with family changes such as separation and divorce, or family problems such as alcoholism or addiction
• is trying to cope with a traumatic event, death of a loved one, or worry over world events
• has a habit he or she would like to get rid of, such as nail biting, hair pulling, smoking, or spending too much money, or getting hooked on medications, drugs, or pills
• wants to sort out problems like managing anger or coping with peer pressure
• wants to build self-confidence or figure out ways to make more friends

In short, therapy offers people support when they are going through difficult times.