Anxiety Counseling
Are they cranky or angry for no clear reason?
- Does your teen often complain of headaches or stomachaches, with no medical cause?
- Are they afraid of making even minor mistakes or have extreme test anxiety?
- Maybe they avoid social situations with peers after school or on weekends (extracurricular activities, dates, school dances, etc.)?
- Do they engage in excessive hand washing, arranging, tapping or other compulsive behaviors?
Anxiety in teenagers takes so many forms! According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 31.9% of teens 13-19 struggled with a diagnosable anxiety disorder over this last year. Anxiety and depression are treatable, but 80 percent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder and 60 percent of kids with diagnosable depression are not getting treatment, according to the 2015 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report. Your child is not alone! That is a lot of teens who are struggling and not yet getting help!
Book An Appointment
Schedule a FREE Consultation
We believe in an integrative and holistic approach to help you make the changes you want. Contact us now to schedule an appointment or to request a 20 minute free phone consultation. During this session, you will be invited to share your story and ask any questions you may have.
As a parent of a teen who struggles with anxiety, it can be extra tricky because your child is now a teenager and there are already so many changes. Their bodies are changing and they are wanting more independence. They may not be as open with you as they used to be, but you see them struggling. It is difficult to know how to help them and it is hard to see them struggle! The landscape is definitely messy!
How counseling can help
This is where counseling can be so helpful. Your teen can develop a relationship with a therapist who specializes in working with teens who struggle with anxiety. They can get tools they need to address their symptoms and may even be able to alleviate them. They will have a safe place to work through their concerns to let go of their worry. Through counseling your child can gain confidence and be in a better place to reach their potential. At MVP we have therapists who are trained in the forms of therapy that can most help those with anxiety (including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, and neurofeedback), and specialize and love working with teens.
Not sure about counseling?
There are several reasons you may feel that bringing your child to counseling may be difficult, including:
Your teen may not want to come… We hear this a lot! It is scary to think about going to a stranger’s office and talking with them about everything you feel most vulnerable about in this world! What we encourage is to ask your teen if they are willing to try it out for a few sessions and then re-evaluate. Let them know that you want to help them, but may not have the tools. Just like you take them to the doctor when they have a fever, taking them to a counselor when they have anxiety just makes sense. They will get the tools to address the problem. Honestly, even when teens are initially hesitant to come to counseling, the great majority of the them quickly change their minds! They value a space where they can say anything and get the help they need to feel better.
Counseling costs money….To get the help your child needs, whether from a doctor or tutor there is a cost. Yet MVP we do everything we can to make it accessible. We take Flex Spending and HSA. We also offer a sliding scale based on income for those with financial need. Please talk with us if money is a concern.
Take the next step
If you think your son or daughter has anxiety, please call us at 720-583-933. You can make an appointment or you can have a 20-minute free phone consultation. We are here to help you!
