Does my child need counseling?

Counseling for adolescents and teens is intended to help those who are between 13 and 18 years of age learn to manage the stressors and pressures of their environment. Together, we will identify the reasons behind your child’s struggles and create a plan to help your child fulfill their full potential using developmentally appropriate techniques.

Our therapists at Clear Mind Counseling San Diego have extensive experience in working with adolescents, teens, and their families. We often collaborate with school counselors, pediatricians, and psychiatrists to formulate the best plan to help your child get back to thriving.

Counseling helps children and their families overcome problems such as:

  • Family conflict and stress

  • Sibling conflict and stress

  • Problems with communication

  • Observable changes in mood and behavior

  • Changes in attire and hygiene

  • Changes in behavior or attitude towards school

  • Changes in school performance or grades

  • Changes in social activity and engagement (isolation and withdrawal)

  • Generalized apathy or lack of interest and joy in activities

  • Changes in diet or appetite

  • Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping way too much or avoiding sleep)

  • Changes in friend choices and social reference groups

  • Alcohol or substance use

  • Secretive behaviors

  • Excessive worry

  • Avoidant behaviors

  • Social anxiety

Our areas of SPECIALIZATION include:

  • Depression

  • Anxiety Disorders (including panic attacks, social anxiety, academic anxiety, OCD, Perfectionism)

  • Eating Disorders & Body Image Issues

  • Social Media & Gaming Addictions

  • Substance Abuse

  • Trauma

  • School Refusal

  • Gender Identity/Sexuality

  • Bullying

  • Family Conflict

Methods we use to promote change for your adolescent and teen:

  • Motivational Interviewing - A specific way of collecting information from your child and asking questions that helps your child describe what they are thinking or feeling and helps with defensiveness and hesitation/barriers to change.

  • Developing authentic rapport and connection (developing trust and rapport with you  and your child is a crucial part of the therapeutic process.  Your adolescent and teen need to feel understood in order to be more communicative and transparent during the therapeutic process.

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - Teaching your child age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate techniques to understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in order to improve your child’s mood and increase healthy behaviors.

  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) - Teaching your child skills that bring attention to the moment/present by practicing mindfulness techniques, tangible coping skills to manage stress, and development of relationship skills.

Making the decision to seek counseling for your adolescent or teen is an important step. We offer all new clients and their families a complementary 10-minute phone consultation to evaluate your child’s needs and to see how we can best alleviate and correct any concerns that you have for your child.

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